Research Article
Muhammad Zain Bin Riaz, Abd
Abstract
A one-dimensional MacCormack explicit finite difference model is developed for simulating hydraulics and bed changes in irrigation channels. The Saint-Venant equations describing unsteady flow in open channels and the continuity equation for the conservation of sediment mass are numerically solved. These equations are highly nonlinear and therefore do not have analytical solutions. For this purpose the MacCormack scheme is used. The scheme is second order accurate; it is a coupled solution as it is a two-step predictor corrector method. Model gives results in terms of bed level changes, flow depth and discharge provided physical boundaries of the system are valid for simulation time. Model execution and accuracy is very sensitive to time step and stability. The simulated results show a good agreement with previous studies in the downstream section, and can predict an average value of measured profile in the upstream section. The application of this model to Chashma Right Bank Canal in Pakistan and results of the model are compared with the published results gave very convincing result.