Well-balanced finite volume schemes for 2D non-homogeneous hyperbolic systems. Application to the dam break of Aznalcóllar Original Research Article

In this paper, we introduce a class of well-balanced finite volume schemes for 2D non-homogeneous hyperbolic systems. We extend the derivation of standard finite volume solvers for homogeneous systems to non-homogeneous ones using the method of lines. We study conservation and some well-balanced properties of the numerical scheme. We apply our solvers to shallow water equations: we prove that these exactly compute the water at rest solutions. We also perform some numerical tests, by comparing with 1D solutions, simulating the formation of a hydraulic drop and a hydraulic jump, and studying a real dam break: Aznalcóllar, an ecological disaster happened in the province of Seville, Spain in 1998.