In hydrological flow simulation, suitable discretization of complex topography of surface or geological formations is necessary to reconstruct or predict fluid behavior with reliablity.
The authors present a methodology of constructing a flow-fitting grid system by using Spring-Mass Network model (SMNET) . The SMNET model that is put on the ground surface in tensional condition moves toward relaxed conditon in which total amount of gravitational and elastic energies of masses and springs becomes lowest, so that the final shape of SMNET can be suitable for flow simulation.
In this paper, the mathematical procedures of SMNET relaxation are fully described, as well as the algorithms of preparation stages for topographical data aquisition and height calculation by P-spline at arbitrary areal point. The SMNET is tested for generating grid system of actual field, and the characteristics of the performances with parameter variation are discussed.