SMS:TUFLOW Simulation

Example of the project explorer containing a TUFLOW simulation.

A simulation includes the domain, boundary conditions, model parameters, event definition, and material set used for a single TUFLOW run. Multiple simulations can exist within the same project in order to compare alternatives such as before/after a levee or to look at multiple events such as 10 year, 20 year, and 50 year.

Working with Simulations

A simulation can be created by right-clicking on a blank portion of the project explorer and choosing New Simulation | TUFLOW. Additional TUFLOW simulations can be created by right-clicking on the simulations folder and selecting the New Simulation command. This command will automatically create a new TUFLOW simulation.

Once a simulation exists future simulations are often similar to one already created. Often it is easier to make a copy of the simulation and make changes where appropriate. A simulation can be copied by right-clicking on the simulation and choosing Duplicate.

The right-click menu for a simulation includes commands to change model parameters or 1D model parameters as well as launching TUFLOW to run the simulation.

Multiple simulations can be run at once by right-clicking on the simulation folder and selecting the Batch Run command.

Simulation Components

Much of the data for a simulation is contained in geometry components and TUFLOW coverages. These items are included in a TUFLOW simulation using Project Explorer links. The model parameters are stored with the simulation item and can be accessed from the simulation's right-click menu.

Simulation Links

TUFLOW Links

A TUFLOW simulation is comprised of a grid, feature coverages, and model parameters. SMS allows for the creation of multiple simulations and each includes “links” to these items. Links are like shortcuts in windows and they call for the geometry component as well as each coverage used that is not part of the geometry component.

By using links the data is not duplicated; it just knows where to go to get the data that has to be used for each simulation. The use of links allows these items to be shared between multiple simulations. Multiple simulations can be created if some components need to be changed to create different scenarios and links would call for the same components used in previous simulations. Simulations also store the model parameters used by TUFLOW.

Links are located in the Project Explorer under the TUFLOW simulation once a simulation has been created.

Batch Runs

Batch Run dialog

SMS allows multiple TUFLOW simulations (each with their own defined scenarios/events to run) to run simultaneously. A batch run is initiated by right-clicking on the TUFLOW simulations folder (the folder that holds the individual simulations) and choosing Batch Run.

The Batch Run command brings up the Batch Run dialog to choose the simulations to run. After checking the simulations to run, choose whether to Export and Run the simulations or Run only. The run only option can be used if the simulation files have been exported previously and don’t need to be changed.

After the simulations have been selected in the Batch Run dialog, the runs will be launched and can be monitored in the Run TUFLOW model wrapper dialog. The top part of this dialog has progress bars showing the individual progress of each run. The screen output for each run can be viewed by clicking on the associated progress bar. The screen output is shown in the bottom part of the dialog.

The Run TUFLOW model wrapper for a batch run

Related Topics

• TUFLOW
• TUFLOW Menu