Tidal Current Modeling Using Shallow Water Equations Based on the Finite Element Method: Case Studies in the Qiongzhou Strait and Around Naozhou Island

Dawei Peng, Jia Mao, Jianhua Li and Lanhao Zhao ()
Additional contact information
Dawei Peng: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
Jia Mao: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China
Jianhua Li: China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
Lanhao Zhao: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Tidal currents are a crucial oceanic process with significant implications for marine engineering and the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources. This paper presents the development of a finite element numerical model to simulate tidal currents. The model was mathematically formulated using the shallow water equations, which are applicable to fluid dynamics where the horizontal scale is significantly larger than the vertical scale. The finite element method was employed to discretize and solve the equations, with the bottom slope source term incorporated into the pressure equation to ensure numerical consistency. Furthermore, characteristic line theory was applied to derive the relationship between boundary tidal levels and current velocities to satisfy boundary compatibility conditions. The model was initially applied to the Qiongzhou Strait, and the results demonstrated good agreement with observed data. Subsequently, the model was implemented at Naozhou Island and its adjacent waters. The results revealed that the tidal currents around Naozhou Island exhibit oscillatory flow patterns, with the flow direction near Donghai Island oriented northeast–southwest (NE-SW) and the flow direction near Leizhou Bay oriented northwest–southeast (NW-SE). This study provides a hydrodynamic basis for marine engineering projects and the sustainable utilization of marine resources in the Naozhou Island area.

Keywords: tidal currents; shallow water equations; finite element method; Qiongzhou Strait; Naozhou Island (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/1256/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/1256/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:1256-:d:1583483

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().