SMS:STWAVE

STWAVE
Model Info
Model type	Model for nearshore wind-wave growth and propagation.
Developer	Jane Smith
Web site	STWAVE web site
Tutorials	General Section Data Visualization Observation Models Section STWAVE Several sets of sample problems and case studies are available. These include: Model Validation cases from the STWAVE website

STWAVE is a steady-state, finite difference, spectral model based on the wave action balance equation. STWAVE is written by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station (USACE-WES).

Functionality

STWAVE simulates depth-induced wave refraction and shoaling, current-induced refraction and shoaling, depth- and steepness-induced wave breaking, diffraction, wave growth because of wind input, and wave-wave interaction and white capping that redistribute and dissipate energy in a growing wave field. The purpose of STWAVE is to provide an easy-to-apply, flexible, and robust model for nearshore wind-wave growth and propagation. Recent upgrades to the model include wind, surge and friction fields (spatially varied). Also, wind and surge fields can be temporally varied. The method of analysis used by the STWAVE code along with the file formats and input parameters are described in the STWAVE documentation. SMS supports both pre- and post-processing for STWAVE.

The new full-plane version of STWAVE is not a replacement for the half-plane version, but a supplement. The half-plane version will always have an advantage of substantially lower memory requirements (~ two orders of magnitude) and faster execution. The half-plane limitation is generally appropriate for nearshore coastal applications, with the exception of enclosed or semi-enclosed bays, estuaries, and lakes where seas and swells may oppose each other or there is no clear “offshore” direction. The full-plane version allows wave input on all boundaries and wave generation from all directions.

Using the Model / Practical Notes

• A grid for use with STWAVE is created and edited in SMS using the Map Module.
• The modeling parameters required by STWAVE are generated and applied to the mesh using commands grouped in the STWAVE menu.
• Post processing of solution data generated by STWAVE is done using the generic visualization tools of SMS.
• Wind can be entered in the STWAVE model control as either a constant value or by specifying an existing Cartesian Grid dataset.
• STWAVE requires metric units. All data in SMS needs to be in metric units before running STWAVE.
• Water depths are defined as positive numbers and land elevations are negative numbers.

Graphical Interface

The STWAVE Graphical Interface contains tools to create and edit a STWAVE simulation. The simulation consists of a geometric definition of the model domain (the grid) and a set of numerical parameters. The parameters define the boundary conditions and options pertinent to the model.

The interface is accessed by selecting the Cartesian Grid Module and setting the current model to STWAVE. If a grid has already been created for a STWAVE simulation or an existing simulation read, the grid object will exist in the Project Explorer and selecting that object will make the Cartesian grid module active and set the model to STWAVE. See Creating 2D Cartesian Grids for more information.

The interface consists of the Cartesian grid menus and tools augmented by the STWAVE Menu. See STWAVE Graphical Interface for more information.

External Links

• Aug 2007 ERDC/CHL CHETN-I-76 Modeling Nearshore Waves for Hurricane Katrina [1]
• Aug 2007 ERDC/CHL CHETN-I-75 Full-Plane STWAVE with Bottom Friction: II. Model Overview [2]
• Sep 2006 9th International Workshop On Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting Jane McKee Smith Modeling Nearshore Waves For Hurricane Katrina [3]
• Mar 2006 ERDC/CHL CHETN-I-71 Full Plane STWAVE: SMS Graphical Interface [4]
• Dec 2003 ERDC/CHL CHETN-IV-60 SMS Steering Module for Coupling Waves and Currents, 2: M2D (now know as CMS-Flow) and STWAVE [5]
• Jun 2002 ERDC/CHL CHETN-I-66 Grid Nesting with STWAVE [6]
• Jun 2002 ERDC/CHL CHETN-IV-41 SMS Steering Module for Coupling Waves and Currents, 1: ADCIRC and STWAVE [7]
  • Please see this forum post for an explanation of ADCIRC and STWAVE steering
• Sep 2001 ERDC/CHL CHETN-I-64 Modeling Nearshor Wave Transformation with STWAVE [8]