• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 1999

The finite difference method and the method of characteristics are frequently used for the numerical analysis of kinematic wave model. Truncation errors cause the peak discharge dissipated in the solution from the finite difference method. The peak discharge is conserved in the solution from the finite difference method. The peak discharge is conserved in the solution from the method of characteristics, however, the shock may deteriorates the numerical solution. In this paper, distinctive features of each scheme are investigated for the numerical analysis of kinematic wave model, and applicability of shock fitting algorithm such as Propagating Shock Fitting and Approximated Shock Fitting methods are studied. Propagating Shock Fitting method appears to treat shock properly, however, it failed to fit the shock appropriately when applied to a sudden inflow change in a long river. Approximate Shock Sitting method, which uses finer elements, is found to be more proper shock-fitting than the Propagating Shock Fitting method. Comparisons are made between two solution from the kinematic wave theory with shock fitting and full dynamic wave theory, and the results are discussed.