SMS:BOUSS-2D Graphical Interface

The BOUSS-2D graphical interface includes tools to assit with creating, editing, and debugging a BOUSS-2D model.

BOUSS-2D Menu

File:BOUSS GenerateArcs.jpg

Example of the BOUSS-2D Generate Arcs dialog.

The following menu commands are available in the BOUSS-2D simulation right-click menu:

Generating Arcs along land boundary

Opens a dialog that will create arcs in a damping or porosity coverage from an existing grid or scatterset.

Generating Arcs along open boundary

Opens a dialog that will create arcs in a damping or porosity coverage from an existing grid or scatterset.

Calculators

Brings up a pop up menu to access theWave Conditions Calculator (see appendix A) as well as the Run-up/Overtopping Estimator.

Probe Manager

Brings up the Probe Manager to control time series output from the model.

Model Control…

Brings up the Model Control dialog to specificy model parameters.

Model Check …

Launches the Model Check to search for common problems.

Export BOUSS-2D

When the BOUSS-2D files are exported a new directory under the project called “BOUSS-2D” is created. In this directory, the grids will be written to. Also a new directory under the “BOUSS-2D” will be created and it will be the name of the simulation. In this directory, the *.par file(link to Parameter file) can be found.

Run BOUSS-2D

Brings up a dialog that allows checking what executable of BOUSS-2D should be run and then runs the model with the currently loaded simulation. As the model runs, a dialog monitors progress of the model and gives the status messages. When the run is complete, the spatial solutions are read in for analysis and visualization.

Save Project, Export, and Run BOUSS-2D

Performs the processes of saving the project, exporting BOUSS-2D files, and launching the BOUSS-2D model run.

Obsolete Commands

The following commands are no long in use in current versions of SMS but may appear in older versions.

Spectral Energy

Brings up the Spectral Energy dialog to define/view wave energy spectra. Generally, BOUSS-2D will generate wave conditions internally, but a spectrum may be input. This command also allows visualizing wave spectra that are generated inside of the model.

Assign BC

Used to assign damping, porosity, or wave maker conditions along a selected cell string(s). Using this command will open the BOUSS-2D Boundary Conditions dialog.

Assign Cell Attributes

Selected cells can be defined as land or water

Polygon Attributes

The Polygon Attributes dialog in BOUSS-2D is used to set the attributes for feature polygons before converting to a grid. Attributes that can be specified for each polygon include:

• Polygon Type – The polygon type can be set to either Land or Ocean.

Model Control

The BOUSS-2D Model Control dialog is used to setup the options that apply to the simulation as a whole. These options include time controls, run types, output options, global parameters, print options and other global settings.

Boundary Conditions

All numeric models require boundary condition data. In BOUSS-2D, boundary conditions are defined on cell strings. The default boundary condition is a closed boundary (no flow).

BOUSS-2D Boundary Conditions dialog

BC Cell Strings

When the BOUSS-2D grid is created, SMS creates cell strings around the computational boundaries of the domain. A cell string is a list of contiguous node locations in the grid. The image to the right shows a grid with four cell strings that were automatically created. The cell string on the left includes the cells along the open ocean. This one has been assigned to be a wave-maker. The one on the right defines the interface between ocean and land along the coastline, and the top and bottom define the portion of the grid that are open to the ocean on those sides.

Cell strings can also be created manually to specify the location of structures, wave-makers, and areas where damping and/or porosity layers may be necessary.

Boundary conditions are specified along cell strings in the BOUSS-2D Boundary Conditions dialog, which is accessed by selecting one or more cell strings using the select cell string tool, and then selecting the Assign BC menu item from the BOUSS-2D menu. Normally, select a single cell string and assign a boundary condition. If a boundary condition has already exists for the selected cell string, the attributes are displayed. The different options for a cell string include:

1. Unassigned BC – When a cell string is created in BOUSS-2D its default boundary condition type is Unassigned. Unassigned cell strings do not influence the model. In fact, unassigned cell strings are not saved as part of the BOUSS-2D input files.
2. Damping BC – Waves propagating out of the computational domain are absorbed in damping regions (or damping layers) placed around the perimeter of the computational domain. Damping layers can also be used to model the partial reflection from harbor structures inside the computational area. Enter a physical width into the Width edit field to specify the size of the damping layer. The damping region extends the width on either side of the cell string. The damping value is a non-dimensional damping coefficient that is allowed to vary from 0.0 to 1.0. No damping will occur when a value of 0.0 is used. Waves will be damped when a value of 1.0 is used along the side boundaries. A typical value for shoreline is 0.1. The default damping value is 1.0. SMS will assign the value specified at the cell string and ramp down to 0.0 at a distance of “width” from the cell string.
3. Porosity BC – Porosity boundary conditions are used to simulate partial wave reflection and transmission through surface-piercing porous structures such as breakwaters. Enter a physical width into the “Width” edit field to specify the size of the porous structure. Like with the damping regions, this width is extended on both sides of the cell string. The porosity value is a non-dimensional porosity coefficient that is allowed to vary from 0.0 to 1.0. A value of 0.0 corresponds to an impervious structure, while a value of near 1.0 would correspond to a highly porous structure. Typical porosity for stone type breakwaters is 0.4. The default porosity value is 1.0.
4. Wave-maker BC –
   File:BOUSS WaveGeneratorProp.jpg

   The BOUSS-2D Wave Generator Properties dialog.
   The wave-maker option is only available when a single cell string is selected and that cell string lies in a single column or row (straight line). Legal cell strings can be created using the SHIFT key when creating cell strings, using automatically created cell strings along a grid boundary, or by creating short cell strings. The extent and position of the wave maker can be modified using I,J indices in the dialog. BOUSS-2D generates waves emanating from this cell string. The properties of the waves are defined using the Wave Generator Properties dialog (described below) that is accessed through the Options button. The edit fields are used to position and size the wave maker in the computational domain. The first two values are the Start and End cells of the wave maker along the column or row that is specified by the third value, which is the Offset value. The Start and End values are limited to the number of cells in either the I- or J-direction, and the Offset value is limited to the number of rows or columns.

When the OK button is clicked, a check is done to see if the wave maker cell string is at a constant depth. If the depth varies by more than 20% and the wave maker is on the edge of the grid (not internal),SMS will ask whether to force constant depth along the wave maker cell string or not. If so, the grid is extended to allow the wave maker to be at the deepest elevation along the string, with a maximum slope of 1:10 from the existing grid to the new wave-maker position. A Wave Calculator is provided as part of BOUSS-2D interface in SMS (see Appendix B) to assist in the preparation of wave input parameters required by the model. Note that the BOUSS-2D | Assign BC menu item is disabled any time multiple wave makers are selected or if a wave maker and one or more other cell strings are selected.

Running the Model

The BOUSS-2D files are written automatically with the SMS project file or can be saved separately using the File | Save BOUSS-2D or File | Save As menu commands. See BOUSS-2D Files for more information on the files used for the BOUSS-2D run.

BOUSS-2D can be launched from SMS using the Run BOUSS-2D right-click menu command. A check of some of the common problems called the Model Checker is done each time the model is launched, or by selecting the Model Check right-click menu command.

Related Topics

• BOUSS-2D
• Create a 2D Cartesian grid