Application of an Element-free Galerkin Method to Water Wave Propagation Problems

Abstract The paper is concerned with the problem of gravitational wave propagation in water of variable depth. The problem is solved numerically by applying an element-free Galerkin method. First, the proposed model is validated by comparing its predictions with experimental data for the plane flow in water of uniform depth. Then, as illustrations, results of numerical simulations performed for plane gravity waves propagating through a region with a sloping bed are presented. These results show the evolution of the free-surface elevation, displaying progressive steepening of the wave over the sloping bed, followed by its attenuation in a region of uniform depth. In addition, some of the results of the present model are compared with those obtained earlier by using the conventional finite element method.