Simulation of "Tsunami Waves" Propagating along Non-Linear Transmission Lines

Abstract

The paper compares three methods for computer simulation of transients on transmission lines with losses and nonlinear behavior, namely distributed LC model, FDTD (Finite-Difference Time-Domain) method, and a new and very effective Method of Slices. The losses are responsible for attenuation and shape changes of the waves as function of time and distance from the source. Special behavior of the line due to voltage-dependent capacitance of the line is considered in detail. The non-linear nature of the line causes that the higher is the voltage the higher is the velocity of propagation. Then, the waves tend to tilt over so that their top moves faster than their base. As a result "tsunami waves" are created on the line. Fundamental algorithms are presented in Matlab language. Several typical situations are solved as an illustration of individual methods.