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Numerical Study of the Dynamics and Structure of a Partial Dam-Break Flow Using the VOF Method

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Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of the opening width of a dam site on the evolution of partial dam-break waves over a fixed dry bed. The volume of fluid (VOF) method was used to scrutinize the propagation of the dam-break free surface. The model was validated using experimental data provided in the literature. At the same time, a sensitivity analysis was conducted on the size of the mesh cells and the turbulence model. However, the large eddy simulation (LES) method showed the highest accuracy among all the models. The results affirmed the crucial role of the opening width of the dam site in the flow characteristics. In this direction, diminishing the opening width results in a reduction of the wave-front travel distance, free surface gradient within the reservoir, outflow discharge values, damping the outflow hydrographs and decreasing the Froude number values at the dam site. Conversely, this leads to an increase in the air bubbles entrained within the wave and results in energy dissipation across the downstream channel.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would appreciate the scientific support of Université de Bretagne Occidentale – UBO, Brest, France from all parts of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Water Engineering, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 65178, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Alireza Khoshkonesh

  2. Université de Bretagne Occidentale, IRDL/UBO UMR CNRS 6027, Rue de Kergoat, 29285, Brest, France

    Blaise Nsom

  3. Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department (DICEA), University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), 80125, Napoli, NA, Italy

    Farhad Bahmanpouri

  4. Department of Water Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 65178, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Fariba Ahmadi Dehrashid

  5. Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz (SCU), 61357-83151, Ahvaz, Iran

    Atefeh Adeli

Authors
  1. Alireza Khoshkonesh
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  2. Blaise Nsom
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  3. Farhad Bahmanpouri
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  4. Fariba Ahmadi Dehrashid
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  5. Atefeh Adeli
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Correspondence to Blaise Nsom.

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Khoshkonesh, A., Nsom, B., Bahmanpouri, F. et al. Numerical Study of the Dynamics and Structure of a Partial Dam-Break Flow Using the VOF Method. Water Resour Manage 35, 1513–1528 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02799-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02799-2

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