Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is a quite recent computational method developed to simulate fluid flows. Differently from other mathematical models of fluid dynamics, SPH describes the mean from the lagrangian point of view. This means that the fluid is divided into a set of discrete fluid elements, like little balls. Each particle has its own properties (e.g a mass) and it moves according to the interactions with other particles. The result is an impressive collections of particles properties: position, for example.

SPH European Research Interest Community (SPHERIC) is the state of the art of SPH research.

For hydraulic researcher and user, it is now available a SPH Free-surface Flow Solver: SPHYSICS.

FORTRAN code is provided for two and three- dimensional versions of the model. Postprocessing tools for MATLAB visualization are also provided.

I have not tried SPHYSICS yet, but it seems the best way for formalizing the SPH use in Hydraulic Engineering field.