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Computational Fluid Dynamics

Modelling Extreme Flow Events: Flash flooding

Many problems in environmental sciences such as tsunamis, storm surges and dam-breaks involve the large-scale movement of solids and fluids. They are often irregular in their timing, difficult to observe and measure, involve multiple types of physical processes on a broad range of spatial and temporal scales and can be catastrophic in their consequences.

Computational modelling can play an important role both in helping to understand the nature of the fundamental processes involved, and in predicting the detailed outcomes of various types of events in specific locations. Particle-based modelling methods have specific advantages over traditional grid or mesh-based continuum methods for these types of problems. These include highly accurate and non-diffusive prediction of complex free-surface behaviour including wave motion, fragmentation and splashing; accurate and automatic convection of material; and the straightforward inclusion of multiscale multi-physics.

The CFD group in CMIS has been developing the particle based Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) code and the Granular Flow (GF) code to model geophysical flows using real three-dimensional topography obtained from Digital Terrain Models (DTM). Due to the use of real topographic information the results from the SPH model can be directly compared with disaster scenarios.

The following are movies of Geophysical SPH/GF simulations modelled by the CFD group:

Note: Some movies are DivX encoded to reduce file size.

If you have any problems playing these videos - you should ensure that you have
the latest codecs installed by visiting the DivX website and downloading the codecs.

http://www.divx.com/divx/

 
   

Movie 1: Flash flooding in Towoomba

 

avi file 725 kB

Simulation of flash flooding in Towoomba. The water is coloured by local depth.
Movie 2: Flash flooding in Towoomba

avi file 765 kB

Simulation of flash flooding in Towoomba. The water is coloured by velocity.
Movie 3: Flash flooding in Grantham

avi file 760 kB

Simulation of flash flooding in Grantham. The water is coloured by velocity.

  

  

Return to SPH movies main page

 

Go to GF movies main page