Variational Boussinesq model for strongly nonlinear dispersive waves

Abstract For wave tank, coastal and oceanic applications, a fully nonlinear Variational Boussinesq model with optimized dispersion is derived and a simple Finite Element implementation is described. Improving a previous weakly nonlinear version, high waves over flat and varying bottom are shown to be simulated with high accuracy for a number of different cases consisting of solitary wave propagation, a focused wave above flat bottom, irregular waves over deep water, waves over a submerged bar with steep slopes (up to 1:2) and waves over shoals.