SMS:ADCIRC Boundary Conditions

Much of ADCIRC's versatility as a model is due to the large number of different boundary types and boundary conditions available in the model. For detailed description of the ADCIRC boundary conditions, we refer you to the documentation provided by the ADCIRC development group at http://www.adcirc.org.

ADCIRC Boundary Conditions Nodestrings

ADCIRC Boundary Conditions are assigned in the ADCIRC Arc/Nodestring Attributes dialog

Boundary conditions are assigned by setting attributes to Feature Arcs representing boundary arcs in the domain used in the simulation.

The ADCIRC Arc/Nodestring Attributes dialog allows the user to define the type of boundary conditions for each feature arc/nodestring.

A feature arc/nodestring can be defined as mainland, island, normal flow, mainland barrier, island barrier, tidal constituents, etc.

To set the boundary types, choose the Select Feature Arc tool from the Toolbox and double-click the desired arc to open the ADCIRC Arc/Nodestring Attributes dialog; then assign the desired boundary conditions to the arc.

ADCIRC Boundary Types

Boundary types are assigned to feature arcs in the conceptual mode or nodestrings on the ADCIRC mesh. Correct boundary type assignments are very important to run a successful ADCIRC project. The following boundary types are available in SMS for ADCIRC:

• Unassigned – default, no boundary condition assigned
• Mainland – This type of boundary represents a mainland boundary with no normal flow condition and free tangential slip.
• Island – This type of boundary represents an island boundary with no normal flow condition and free tangential slip. This can be selected for a closed feature arc.
• Normal Flow – This type of boundary represents a river inflow or open ocean boundary with a specified normal flow condition and free tangential slip. Discharges are specified either for harmonic discharge forcing or for time series discharge forcing.

Normal Flow Parameters dialog

• Normal Wave Radiation – This type of boundary represents an open boundary where waves are allowed to propagate freely out of the domain.
• Mainland Barrier – This type of boundary represents a mainland boundary comprised of a dike or levee. Non-zero normal flow is computed using a supercritical, free surface weir formula if the barrier is overtopped. Zero normal flow is assumed if the barrier is not overtopped.

  

  Mainland Barrier Options dialog

• Island Barrier – This type of boundary represents a dike or levee that lies inside the computational domain. Non-zero normal flow is compute using either subcritical or supercritical, free surface weir formula (based on the water level on both sides of the barrier) if the barrier is overtopped. Zero normal flow is assumed if the barrier is not overtopped. This boundary condition requires two nodestrings with an equal number of nodes. See ADCIRC Weirs and Island Barriers for more information.

Island Barrier Options dialog

• Weir – This type of boundary is similar to an Island Barrier with the addition of cross barrier flow. Cross barrier flow simulates flow through the barrier simulating pipes or culverts from one side to the other. Flow rate and direction are based on barrier height, surface water elevation on both sides of the barrier, barrier coefficient and the appropriate barrier flow formula. In addition cross barrier pipe flow rate and direction are based on pipe crown height, surface water elevation on both sides of the barrier, pipe friction coefficient, pipe diameter and the appropriate pipe flow formula. This boundary condition requires two nodestrings with the same number of nodes. See ADCIRC Weirs and Island Barriers for more information.

Weir Options dialog.

• Zero Normal Velocity Gradient– This type of boundary forces flow through the specified nodestring reflective of flow at a fictitious point inside the domain. This is referred to as a weakly reflective boundary in some numerical engines. The fictitious point lies on the inward directed normal to the boundary a distance equal to the distance from the boundary node to its farthest 'neighbor. This should ensure that the fictitious point does not fall into an element that contains the boundary node. The velocity at the fictitious point is determined by interpolation.
• Ocean – This type of boundary represents an open interface for flow with a specified water surface elevation. Elevations are specified either as tidal constituents for harmonic forcing or as time series or water level.

ADCIRC Boundary Conditions Options

Depending upon the specified boundary type, the following boundary conditions are available:

Boundary Condition	Boundary Type
Essential w/ Tangential Slip	Mainland Island Normal Flow Mainland Barrier
Essential w/o Tangential Slip	Mainland Island Normal Flow Mainland Barrier
Natural (w/ Tangential Slip)	Mainland Island Normal Flow Mainland Barrier
Tidal Constituents	Ocean
Curve	Ocean
Extract from Dataset	Ocean

Recording Stations

ADCIRC Recording Stations dialog

The SMS interface allows the user to create recording stations at specified nodal locations. At these locations, the ADCIRC model will output specified quantities at a user specified time interface. This allows for comparison of time series with observed buoy data. For example, the global output interval may be 30 minutes or 1 hour, while the recording station output could be at a higher frequency such as 6 minutes. The following recording stations can be assigned to an ADCIRC mesh node:

2D Station Types

• Elevation - ADCIRC will output a times series of computed water surface elevation at this location.
• Velocity - ADCIRC will output a times series of computed velocity magnitude at this location.
• Concentration - ADCIRC will output a times series of constituent concentration at this location.
• Meteorological - ADCIRC will output a times series of wind and pressure variables at this location.

3D Station Types (Only available when running in 3D mode - research)

• Density/Temperature/Salinity
• Velocity
• Turbulence

Description of Station

Stations can be assigned a name to make station identification easier. A single point can be a recording station for multiple types of data (i.e. a node can record both elevation and velocity).

Related Links

• ADCIRC
• Coverage
• Linear Truncation Error Analysis (LTEA)
• Meshes
• Model Control
• Spatial Attributes
• Steering