BWEFoam: An open-source Boussinesq types of equations solver based on OpenFOAM

Abstract

Boussinesq-type wave models improve traditional shallow water models by incorporating higher-order terms that account for dispersion effects during wave propagation. Essentially, they are applicable when the wave number times water depth ($kd$) does not satisfy the shallow water condition ($kd<<1$). BWEFoam, introduced in this work, is implemented in the finite-volume-method based OpenFOAM framework. The high-order Boussinesq-type equations are employed as the governing equations to incorporate the effect of dispersion. The effects of bottom friction and momentum diffusion are also integrated as source terms. Validation against a dam break scenario confirms its accuracy compared to analytical solutions while its ability to capture dispersion effects is demonstrated in a solitary wave propagation simulation. BWEFoam broadens the scope of water wave simulations, offering improved relevance in realistic scenarios where the dispersion effect cannot be neglected.