A NEW FINITE-ELEMENT SCHEME FOR THE BOUSSINESQ EQUATIONS

In this paper we consider the Boussinesq equations to simulate the mot ion of water waves with a moderate curvature of the free surface. The mathematical model describing the wave dynamics is introduced together with a short description of its derivation, posing emphasis on the re lated assumptions. The discrete representation of the Boussinesq equat ions is faced with numerical difficulties of two kinds: the nonsymmetr ic character of the (nonlinear) advection-propagation operator and the presence of third-order differential terms accounting for dispersion phenomena. In this paper it is shown how it is possible to use a finit e element Taylor-Galerkin method to discretize the equations, ensuring high order accuracy both in time and space and obtaining a numerical solution free of spurious oscillations.