Ricerc@Sapienza

We propose a semi-Lagrangian method for the numerical solution of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The method is based on the Chorin–Temam fractional step projection method, combined with a fully semi-Lagrangian scheme to approximate both advective and diffusive terms in the momentum equation. A standard finite element method is used instead to solve the Poisson equation for the pressure.

In this paper we propose a three-dimensional numerical study of the coastal currents produced by the wave motion in the area opposite the Cetraro harbour (Italy), during the most significant wave event for the coastal sediment transport. The aim of the present study is the characterization of the current patterns responsible for the siltation that affects the harbour entrance area and the assessment of a project solution designed to limit this phenomenon.

We propose a three-dimensional non-hydrostatic shock-capturing numerical model for the simulation of wave propagation, transformation and breaking, which is based on an original integral formulation of the contravariant Navier–Stokes equations, devoid of Christoffel symbols, in general time-dependent curvilinear coordinates. A coordinate transformation maps the time-varying irregular physical domain that reproduces the complex geometries of coastal regions to a fixed uniform computational one.