Modelling of wind-induced currents in water basins

This paper presents a numerical modelling study into wind-induced currents in shallow water basins. A three-dimensional, semi-implicit, finite difference numerical model is described, incorporating non-hydrostatic pressure, based on a sigma-transformed system in the vertical direction. The numerical model was first validated for sloshing in a rectangular tank; excellent agreement was obtained against analytical solutions, provided the non-hydrostatic pressure is incorporated. The model was further verified against experimental data on wind-induced circulation in shallow rectangular tanks. It was then used to simulate wind-induced, three-dimensional flow fields in idealised rectangular tanks. A parameter study was carried out for wind-induced flows in Esthwaite Water, and the predictions compared against field data. It is shown that the numerical model is capable of accurately simulating the wind-induced circulation in shallow enclosed water bodies and that the topography and wind stress are of primary importance. The non-hydrostatic pressure does not have a significant effect on the wind-induced flow fields considered herein.