Failure of dams arranged in series or in complex

Benjamin Dewals (), Sébastien Erpicum, Sylvain Detrembleur, Pierre Archambeau and Michel Pirotton ()
Additional contact information
Benjamin Dewals: http://www.hach.ulg.ac.be
Michel Pirotton: http://www.hach.ulg.ac.be

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2011, vol. 56, issue 3, 917-939

Abstract: A practical methodology has been developed for predicting flows generated by dam failures or malfunctions in a complex or a series of dams. A twofold approach is followed. First, the waves induced in the downstream reservoirs are computed, as well as hydrodynamic impacts induced on downstream dams and dikes are estimated. Second, the flood wave propagation and the inundation process are simulated in the downstream valley, accounting for possible dam collapse or breaching in cascade. Two complementary flow models are combined: a two-dimensional fully dynamic model and a simplified lumped model. At each stage, the methodology provides guidelines to select the most appropriate model for efficiently computing the induced flows. Both models handle parametric modeling of gradual dam breaching. The procedure also incorporates prediction of breach formation time and final width, as well as sensitivity analysis to compensate for the high uncertainties remaining in the estimation of breach parameters. The applicability of the modeling procedure is demonstrated for a case study involving a 70-m high-gravity concrete dam located upstream of four other dams. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Keywords: Dam break in cascade; Dam breaching; Hazard analysis; Depth-averaged flow modeling; Finite volume; Breach parameters; Sensitivity analysis; Lumped model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-010-9600-z

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