21 Jan 2026

Development of Tidal and Surge Forcing in Boussinesq Wave Model FUNWAVE-TVD

PURPOSE: This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) documents the development of the tidal and surge-forcing module in the Boussinesq wave model FUNWAVE–Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) for wind-wave simulations, subjected to large-scale boundary forcing conditions. In a series of recent projects undertaken by the Coastal Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) of the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), there was a need to model wind waves under time-varying boundary conditions due to tides, storm surges, or strong background flows. The implications on wave runup and overtopping (flooding) around inlets, due to the interaction of tide or surge-driven flows and waves (wave-current interactions), make the need for the development of surge and tide forcing vital to modeling waves with a Boussinesq-type model like FUNWAVE-TVD. Furthermore, strong velocity flows (currents) are not only responsible for depth-limited wave transformation and breaking at inlets but also directly influence sediment transport. Most phase-resolving wave models cannot facilitate these kinds of simulations because the wavemaker cannot generate the phase-resolving wave conditions and low-frequency motions (e.g., tides) at the same time. For example, in FUNWAVE-TVD, the combination of an internal wavemaker and a sponge layer is used to generate wind waves in the shoreward direction while absorbing waves with the sponge layer in the seaward direction behind the wavemaker. However, this type of combined system of wave generation and absorption cannot readily incorporate the external low-frequency forcing into wave generation.

10 Dec 2025

A Qualitative Comparison Review Between Commonly Used Boussinesq Models

Abstract: The purpose of this Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) is to summarize the Boussinesq models FUNWAVE, Coulwave, and Celeris. This CHETN outlines the governing equations and numerical schemes for each model and presents the order of their error terms. A qualitative comparison was completed between the fully nonlinear models, FUNWAVE and Coulwave, and the weakly nonlinear model, Celeris. Results from this comparison demonstrate capabilities for each model by comparing previously published benchmark validation cases. The discussion section highlights additional areas of research and report recommendations.

10 Jun 2024

Getting Started with FUNWAVE-TVD: Troubleshooting Guidance and Recommendations

Abstract: This technical note reviews some common initialization errors when first getting started with the numerical wave model, FUNWAVE-TVD (Fully Nonlinear Wave model–Total Variation Diminishing), and provides guidance for correcting these errors. Recommendations for troubleshooting the source or cause of instabilities in an application of the model as well as recognizing the difference between physical and numerical instabilities are also outlined and discussed. In addition, a quick start troubleshooting guide is provided in the Appendix. This guidance is particularly useful for novice to intermediate users of FUNWAVE-TVD who are less familiar with the workflow of setting up the model and interpreting error output statements.

3 Oct 2022

Practical Guidance for Numerical Modeling in FUNWAVE-TVD

Purpose: This technical note describes the physical and numerical considerations for developing an idealized numerical wave-structure interaction modeling study using the fully nonlinear, phase-resolving Boussinesq-type wave model, FUNWAVE-TVD (Shi et al. 2012). The focus of the study is on the range of validity of input wave characteristics and the appropriate numerical domain properties when inserting partially submerged, impermeable (i.e., fully reflective) coastal structures in the domain. These structures include typical designs for breakwaters, groins, jetties, dikes, and levees. In addition to presenting general numerical modeling best practices for FUNWAVE-TVD, the influence of nonlinear wave-wave interactions on regular wave propagation in the numerical domain is discussed. The scope of coastal structures considered in this document is restricted to a single partially submerged, impermeable breakwater, but the setup and the results can be extended to other similar structures without a loss of generality. The intended audience for these materials is novice to intermediate users of the FUNWAVE-TVD wave model, specifically those seeking to implement coastal structures in a numerical domain or to investigate basic wave-structure interaction responses in a surrogate model prior to considering a full-fledged 3-D Navier-Stokes Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. From this document, users will gain a fundamental understanding of practical modeling guidelines that will flatten the learning curve of the model and enhance the final product of a wave modeling study. Providing coastal planners and engineers with ease of model access and usability guidance will facilitate rapid screening of design alternatives for efficient and effective decision-making under environmental uncertainty.