SMS - Surface Water Modeling System V 8.0

SMS Quick Tour (continued)

Network Creation

Once the conceptual model is created, a mesh or grid is automatically generated from the conceptual model. The mesh is fit to the model boundary, and elements are created according to the assigned element attributes.

Polygon Attributes

For each polygon, the type of element used to fill that polygon is controlled by the user. SMS supports adaptive tessellation that fills the area with triangles, patches which lines the region with mostly quadrilaterals, and density meshing that builds elements based on underlying size functions. All elements in the polygon are assigned the material type for the polygon. All nodes generated in the polygon are assigned bathymetry from the specified source.

Feature Stamping

Some conceptual features may be desired in the numerical model that do not exist in the bathymetry of the model. Examples include jetties, breakwaters, bridge embankments, and dredged channels.

The feature stamping option in SMS creates the GIS entities to represent these features from a centerline arc or arc group and feature parameters.

Model Conversion

Once the network is created, the next step is to assign the attributes from the conceptual model to the network. This automatically assigns boundary conditions and material properties. If a change is made to the conceptual model, the network and its attributes can be updated in seconds.

USACE-WES Models

SMS includes interfaces to many of the models supported and used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. WES has played an important part in the development and evolution of the tools in SMS.

The USACE models with interfaces in SMS include:

2D Finite Elements Models

TABS-MD - TABS is a multidimensional hydrodynamics package that includes:

RMA2 - RMA2 is a subcritical, depth averaged model for both steady state and transient hydraulic modeling. General applications require an unstructured finite-element network of quadratic elements (6 noded triangles and 8 noded quadrilaterals). Sections of one-dimensional entities which simulate trapezoidal channels can be incorporated into the two-dimensional mesh.
GFGEN (Geometry File GENerator) - The models that comprise TABS-MD all utilize a binary representation of the geometry. This binary file is generated from an ASCII file saved by SMS by running the program GFGEN from the RMA2 menu in SMS.
RMA4 - RMA4 is a constituent migration modeling code that has the ability to compute constituent concentrations and dispersion when supplied with a hydrodynamic solution computed by RMA2.
SED2D-WES - SED2D-WES is a sediment transport numerical model that has the ability to compute sediment loadings and bed elevation changes when supplied with a hydrodynamic solution computed by RMA2.
HIVEL-2D - HIVEL-2D supports subcritical and supercritical flow analysis. It is used to analyze flow fields which have shocks such as hydraulic jumps and oblique standing waves. SMS supports both pre- and post-processing for HIVEL-2D.
ADCIRC - ADCIRC (ADvanced CIRCulation Multidimensional Hydrodynamic Model) is a latest-generation multidimensional model based on the solution of the generalized wave equation formulation of the governing equations on a highly flexible unstructured grid.
CGWAVE - CGWAVE models harbor response taking into account outside sea state, harbor shape and man-made structures (i.e., piers, breakwaters, naval vessels). It is a forecasting and nowcasting tool used in coastal and military planning and civil engineering.

Finite Difference Models

STWAVE - STWAVE (STeady State Irregular WAVE Model) is a computationally efficient steady-state spectral wave energy propagation model.
GHOST - GHOST models irregular wave propagation in coastal areas. Waves are defined by its directional spectrum.

One-Dimensional Model

HECRAS - HecRas is designed to predict water surface elevation and velocities for a river network.

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