What is Mflow_02?

Mflow_02 is a solver for calculating unsteady two-dimensional plane flow and riverbed morphodynamics using unstructured meshes and the finite element method in an orthogonal Cartesion coordinate system. The original version of Mflow_02 was based on a program developed in late 1980s by G. Tomitokoro of Shinshu University. Thereafter, M. Gamou (former staff of Pacific Consultants Co. Ltd, current Gamou Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd. (G.I.T.)), K. Hamaguchi and M. Ichiyama (Pacific Consultants Co. Ltd) led the core work to expand and develop the model, notably by adding some functionality like the moving-boundary method and calculation of river morphodynamics. By applying the characteristics of unstructured meshes, this model can calculate unsteady flow in areas including structures like piers, weirs, etc., or to calculate flooding in complicated area, such as floodplain areas and river channel networks with many distributaries and confluences. The model is also one of very few unstructured approaches that can predict riverbed variation and the appearance, development and movement of sandbars. There are a number of practical applications, like the application for impact assessment of piers, etc., impact assessment of vegetation and trees, flooding calculations and estuary sandbar flushing.