1.5. OVERVIEW OF HYDRAULIC PHYSICAL MODELS
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• Laboratory Effects: Differences between prototype and
model response that arise from limitations of the laboratory facilities, such as wave and flow generation techniques,
solid model boundaries, etc.
• Mathematical Model: A mathematical representation
of the physics of a coastal process and its response to hydrodynamic forcing. Mathematical models can be analytically solved for some simple cases, whereas more complex
flow regimes require a discrete, numerical representation of
the process which is then solved using a computer.
• Numerical Model: A special case of the Mathematical Model where solution of the mathematical equations
thought to govern the physical processes are discretized
and solved using a computer. Discretization can occur
over time and space, and hydrodynamic forcing is input
at the model boundaries.
• Hybrid Modeling: An investigation where a physical
model is used to obtain results for complex flow regions
that are beyond analytical understanding, and a numerical
(mathematical) model is used to solve over other portions
of the region which fall into the realm of validity for the
numerical model. Depending on the situation, results from
one model can be used as input to “drive” the other model.
15
• Laboratory Effects: Differences between prototype and
model response that arise from limitations of the laboratory facilities, such as wave and flow generation techniques,
solid model boundaries, etc.
• Mathematical Model: A mathematical representation
of the physics of a coastal process and its response to hydrodynamic forcing. Mathematical models can be analytically solved for some simple cases, whereas more complex
flow regimes require a discrete, numerical representation of
the process which is then solved using a computer.
• Numerical Model: A special case of the Mathematical Model where solution of the mathematical equations
thought to govern the physical processes are discretized
and solved using a computer. Discretization can occur
over time and space, and hydrodynamic forcing is input
at the model boundaries.
• Hybrid Modeling: An investigation where a physical
model is used to obtain results for complex flow regions
that are beyond analytical understanding, and a numerical
(mathematical) model is used to solve over other portions
of the region which fall into the realm of validity for the
numerical model. Depending on the situation, results from
one model can be used as input to “drive” the other model.