Finite difference method and a spurious reflection of waves in a layer of fluid (Q1076565)

For a layer of fluid and boundary conditions considered in this paper analytical solutions of the Helmholtz equation exist and are well known. When the continuum is replaced by a discrete space of chosen points with a regular grid, analogous solutions may be calculated. In the case of two uniform grids with sudden mesh size change from one grid to the other, in the layer a deformation of discrete solutions occurs. The deformation assumes the form of a spurious wave reflected from the boundary of the two grids. Moreover, the transmitted wave amplitude is changed. If the wave propagates from a grid of smaller mesh size, then the transmitted wave has a larger amplitude than the incident wave. The explicit formulae obtained enable us to calculate the degree of deformation of discrete solutions for the finite difference method and the nonuniform grid.