Some of the key features of DHI Mike 21 include:
At its heart, MIKE 21 is a two-dimensional, hydrodynamic modeling engine. Unlike simpler one-dimensional models that simulate flow only along a river channel, a 2D model solves the depth-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (specifically the Saint-Venant equations for shallow water). This means it simulates how water moves both horizontally across a landscape and through time, accounting for variations in depth, velocity, and direction. The software’s flexible mesh technology—most notably its use of a non-structured, cell-centered finite volume method—allows it to represent complex, irregular coastlines, islands, and man-made structures with far greater precision than traditional rectangular grids. This adaptive mesh refines resolution in areas of interest (e.g., around a bridge pier or a narrow inlet) while maintaining coarser resolution in deeper, less critical zones, balancing accuracy with computational efficiency. dhi mike 21