Variable-coefficient projective Riccati equation method and its application to a new (2 + 1)-dimensional simplified generalized Broer–Kaup system

In this paper, based on a new intermediate transformation, a variable-coefficient projective Riccati equation method is proposed. Being concise and straightforward, it is applied to a new (2 + 1)-dimensional simplified generalized Broer–Kaup (SGBK) system. As a result, several new families of exact soliton-like solutions are obtained, beyond the travelling wave. When imposing some condition on them, the new exact solitary wave solutions of the (2 + 1)-dimensional SGBK system are given. The method can be applied to other nonlinear evolution equations in mathematical physics.