A Godunov-type method for the shallow water equations with discontinuous topography in the resonant regime

We investigate the Riemann problem for the shallow water equations with variable and (possibly) discontinuous topography and provide a complete description of the properties of its solutions: existence; uniqueness in the non-resonant regime; multiple solutions in the resonant regime. This analysis leads us to a numerical algorithm that provides one with a Riemann solver. Next, we introduce a Godunov-type scheme based on this Riemann solver, which is well-balanced and of quasi-conservative form. Finally, we present numerical experiments which demonstrate the convergence of the proposed scheme even in the resonance regime, except in the limiting situation when Riemann data precisely belong to the resonance hypersurface.

► We investigate the Riemann problem for the shallow water equations with discontinuous topography. ► We investigate the existence and uniqueness of Riemann solutions in both the resonant and non-resonant regimes. ► We introduce a Godunov scheme, which is well-balanced, quasi-conservative, and convergent.