Unsteady streamflow modeling guidelines

Presented herein is a case study of one-dimensional modeling of spatially varied unsteady flow regime in a river, utilizing the continuity and momentum formulations of Saint-Venant equations. The emphasis is on sensitivity analyses of the modeling framework for obtaining guidelines for modeling exercises. Finite-difference schemes were compared relative to their efficacy in simulating flow regimes. Model response was examined with respect to changes in six parameters, namely: (1) grid size; (2) lateral inflow or outflow rates; (3) discrete and composite description of hydraulic elements; (4) discrete and composite description of bed slopes; (5) roughness coefficient of stream bed; and (6) magnitude of weighting parameter.