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Embankment Dams Overtopping Breach: A Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Results

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Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The overtopping breach is the most probable reason of embankment dam failures. Hence, the investigation of the mentioned phenomenon is one of the vital hydraulic issues. This research paper tries to utilize three numerical models, i.e., BREACH, HEC-RAS, and FLOW-3D for modeling the hydraulic outcomes of overtopping breach phenomenon. Furthermore, the outputs have been compared with experimental model results given by authors. The BREACH model presents a desired prediction for the peak flow. The HEC-RAS model has a more realistic performance in terms of the peak flow prediction, its occurrence time (5-s difference with observed status), and maximum flow depth. The variations diagram in the reservoir water level during the breach process has a descending trend. Whereas it initially ascended; and then, it experienced a descending trend in the observed status. The FLOW-3D model computes the flow depth, flow velocity, and Froude number due to the physical model breach. Moreover, it revealed a peak flow damping equals to 5% and 5-s difference in the peak flow occurrence time at 4-m distance from the physical model downstream. In addition, the current research work demonstrates the mentioned numerical models and provides a possible comprehensive perspective for a dam breach scope. They also help to achieve the various hydraulic parameters computations. Besides, they may calculate unmeasured parameters using the experimental data.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank the assistance of Dr. Shervin Faghihirad, Dr. Sadegh Sadeghi, Mr. Shahdad Safavi, and Mr. Sahand Akbarian for their helps and suggestions in terms of experimental setup preparation at Iranian Water Research Institute (IWRI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering (Water & Hydraulic Structures), Faculty of Engineering, Urmia University, P O Box 165, Urmia, 57561-51818, Iran

    Mahdi Ebrahimi & Mirali Mohammadi

  2. Department of Hydraulics and Hydro-Environmental Engineering, Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

    Sayed Mohammad Hadi Meshkati

  3. Iranian Water Resources Management Company, Tehran, Iran

    Farhad Imanshoar

Authors
  1. Mahdi Ebrahimi
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  2. Mirali Mohammadi
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  3. Sayed Mohammad Hadi Meshkati
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  4. Farhad Imanshoar
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the concept and the development of the idea. Mahdi Ebrahimi and Sayed Mohammad Hadi Meshkati contributed to the experimental setup and generation of results. Mahdi Ebrahimi and Mirali Mohammadi contributed to the revision of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mirali Mohammadi.

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Ebrahimi, M., Mohammadi, M., Meshkati, S.M.H. et al. Embankment Dams Overtopping Breach: A Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Results. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Civ Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-024-01387-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-024-01387-9

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