Effect of channel shape on selection of time marching scheme in the discontinuous Galerkin method for 1-D open channel flow

One-dimensional open channel flows are simulated using the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method. Three different explicit time marching schemes, including multistep/multistage schemes, are evaluated for different channel shapes for accuracy and efficiency. The Forward Euler, second-order Adam-Bashforth (multistep), and second-order total variation diminishing (TVD) Runge-Kutta (multistage) time marching schemes are utilized. The role of monotonized central, minmod, and zero TVD slope limiters for each of the time marching scheme is investigated. The numerical flux is approximated using HLL function. The accuracy and robustness of different time marching schemes are evaluated for steady and unsteady flows using analytical and measured data. The unsteady flows include dam break tests with wet and dry beds downstream of the dam in prismatic (rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, and parabolic cross-sections) and non-prismatic (natural river) channels. The steady flow test involves simulation of hydraulic jump in a diverging rectangular channel. The various schemes are evaluated by comparing accuracy using statistical measures and efficiency using maximum possible time step size as well as CPU runtime. The second-order Adam-Bashforth time marching scheme is found to have the best accuracy and efficiency among the time stepping schemes tested.