Third-order Boussinesq model applied to nonlinear evolution of shallow-water waves

Abstract

The conventional Boussinesq model was extended to the third order in dispersion and nonlinearity. The new equations were shown to possess better linear dispersion characteristics. For the evolution of periodic waves over a constant depth, the computed wave envelops are spatially aperiodic and skew. The model was then applied to the study of wave focusing by a topographical lens and the results were compared with Whalin's (1971) experimental data and some previous results from the conventional Boussinesq model. Improved agreement with Whalin's experimental data was found.