scholarly journals Modeling and Risk Analysis of Dam-Break Flooding in a Semi‐Arid Montane Watershed.

Author(s):  
Aissam Gaagai ◽  
Hani Amir Aouissi ◽  
Andrey E. Krauklis ◽  
Juris Burlakovs ◽  
Ali Athamena ◽  
...  

The risk related to embankment dam breaches needs to be evaluated in order to prepare emergency action plans. The physical and hydrodynamic parameters of the flood wave generated from dam-failure event correspond to various breach parameters such as width, slope and formation time. This study aimed to simulate dam-breach failure scenario of Yabous dam (NE Algeria) and analyze its influence on areas (urban and natural environments) downstream the dam. The simulation was completed using the sensitivity analysis method in order to assess the impact of breach parameters on the dam-break scenario. The propagation of flood wave associated to dam-break was simulated using the one-dimensional HEC-RAS hydraulic model. This study ap-plied a sensitivity analysis of three breach parameters (slope, width, and formation time) in five sites selected downstream the embankment dam. The simulation showed that the maximum flow of the flood wave recorded at the level of the breach was 8768 m3/s, which gradually attenuated along the river course to reach 1579.2m3/s at about 8.5km downstream the dam. This study estab-lished the map of flood-prone areas that illustrated zones threatened with the flooding wave trig-gered by the dam failure due to extreme rainfall events. The sensitivity analysis showed that flood wave flow, height and width revealed positive and similar changes for the increase in adjustments (±25% and ±50%) of breach width and slope in the 5 sites. However, flood wave parameters of breach formation time showed significant trends that changed in the opposite direction compared to breach slope and width.

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Andrei Urzică ◽  
Alin Mihu-Pintilie ◽  
Cristian Constantin Stoleriu ◽  
Cătălin Ioan Cîmpianu ◽  
Elena Huţanu ◽  
...  

Using hydraulic modeling techniques (e.g., one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) hydraulic modeling, dam break scenarios) for extracting the flood settings is an important aspect of any action plan for dam failure (APDF) and flood mitigation strategy. For example, the flood hydraulic models and dam break scenario generated based on light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) and processed in the dedicated geographic information systems (GIS) and hydraulic modeling software (e.g., HEC-RAS—Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System, developed by USACE HEC, Davis, CA, USA) can improve the flood hazard maps in case of potentially embankment dam failure. In this study, we develop a small-scale conceptual approach using 2D HEC-RAS software according to the three embankment dam break scenarios, LiDAR data (0.5 m spatial resolution), and 2D hydraulic modeling for the Başeu multi-reservoir system which belongs to the Başeu River (NE Romania) including R1—Cal Alb reservoir, R2—Movileni reservoirs, R3—Tătărăşeni reservoirs, R4—Negreni reservoirs, and R5—Hăneşti reservoirs. In order to test the flood control capacity of the Bașeu multi-reservoir system, the Cal Alb (R1) dam break scenario (piping failure) was taken into account. Three 2D stream flow modeling configurations based on R1 inflow rate with a 1% (100 year), 0.5% (500 year), and 0.1% (1000 year) recurrence interval and the water volume which can be accumulated with that specific inflow rate (1% = 10.19 × 106 m3; 0.5% = 12.39 × 106 m3; 0.1% = 17.35 × 106 m3) were computed. The potential flood wave impact was achieved on the basis of different flood severity maps (e.g., flood extent, flood depth, flood velocity, flood hazard) generated for each recurrence interval scenario and highlighted within the built-up area of 27 settlements (S1–S27) located downstream of R1. The results showed that the multi-reservoir system of Bașeu River has an important role in flood mitigation and contributes to the APDF in the context of climate change and the intensification of hydrological hazard manifestation in northeastern Romania.


Author(s):  
Dayu Yu ◽  
Liyu Tang ◽  
Chongcheng Chen

Abstract. A tailings dam accident can cause serious ecological disaster and property loss. Simulation of a tailings dam accident in advance is useful for understanding the tailings flow characteristics and assessing the possible extension of the impact area. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was proposed for reasonably and quickly predicting the flow routing and impact area of mud flow from a dam failure across 3-D terrain. The Navier–Stokes equations and the Bingham-Papanastasiou rheology model were employed as the governing equations and the constitutive model, respectively, and solved numerically in the finite volume method (FVM) scheme. The volume of fluid (VOF) method was used to track the interface between the tailings and air. The accuracy of the CFD model and the chosen numerical algorithm were validated using an analytical solution of the channel flow problem and a laboratory experiment on the dam break problem reported in the literature. In each issue, the obtained results were very close to the analytical solutions or experimental values. The proposed approach was then applied to simulate two scenarios of tailings dam failures, one of which was the Feijão tailings dam that failed on 25 January 2019, and the simulated routing coincided well with the in situ investigation. Therefore, the proposed approach does well in simulating the flow phenomenon of tailings after a dam break, and the numerical results can be used for early warning of disasters and emergency response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 90-97
Author(s):  
Israa Dheyaa Abdulrazzaq ◽  
Qassem H. Jalut ◽  
Jasim M. Abbas

The prediction of dams breach geometry crucial in studies of dam breaking. The hydrographs characteristics of flood that resulting from breaking of dam is mainly depend on the geometry of breach and the time formation of breach. Five approaches (Froehlich, Macdonald and Langridge-Monopolis, Von thun & Gillete, USBR and Singh % Snorrason) was used in order to predict dam breach parameters (breach width, breach side slope, breach formation time). The Sensitivity analysis was performed in order to assess the effect of each parameter on the resulting hydrograph of the flood. HEC-RAS model was used to calculate the effect of each parameter on the hydrograph of the flood that resulted. The width of breach (Bavg), side slope (z) and formation time of breach (tf) increased by 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% and decreased by 25%, 50% and 75%, respectively. Flood hydrograph was estimated at the dam site for each case. Sensitivity analysis was performed in order to check the effect of each parameter of breach and time of breaching. Sensitivity analysis was performed with Froehlich method with the mode of overtopping failure and maximum operating level at 107.5 meter above sea level. Result of sensitivity analysis show that peak discharge and time to reach it is adequately sensitive to breach side slope, highly sensitive to the breach formation time and less sensitive to breach width.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Sha Wang ◽  
Guodong Mei ◽  
Xuyang Xie ◽  
Lijie Guo

To evaluate the evolutionary processes guiding the formation of the tailings-water mixtures produced by the instantaneous collapse of tailings ponds and the influence of these on downstream facilities, a 2D simulation model with reasonable boundary and working conditions derived from actual engineering practice was built in this study, and the relationship between dam-break elevation and impact on downstream facilities was also analyzed to determine the relevant mechanism of influence. Computational results indicated that lowering the dam-break elevation caused the maximum velocity and flooding depth, along with the flooded area at monitoring points, to gradually increase. The occurrence times of maximum velocity and flooding depth were also gradually moved forward as the breaking elevation was reduced; this effect is directly related to the increase in the total potential energy at the lower break elevations. Further simulations of sand-prevent dams with different heights located downstream from a tailings pond were carried out to identify methods for mitigating the impact of dam failure. The results revealed that increasing the height of the sand-prevent dam reduced the production of tailings mixtures. Based on the results, the construction of a sand-prevent dam with a crest elevation equal to that of the starter dam was recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 1501-1514
Author(s):  
Ibtisam R. Karim ◽  
Zahraa F. Hassan ◽  
Hassan Hussein Abdullah ◽  
Imzahim A. Alwan

Dam overtopping failure and the resulting floods are hazardous events that highly impact the inundated areas and are less predictable. The simulation of the dam breach failure and the flood wave propagation is necessary for assessing flood hazards to provide precautions. In the present study, a two-dimensional HEC-RAS model was used to simulate the flood wave resulting from the hypothetical failure of Al-Udhaim Dam on Al-Udhaim River, Iraq, and the propagation of the resulting dam-break wave along 100 km downstream the dam site for the overtopping scenario. The main objective is to analyze the propagation of the flood wave so that the failure risk on dam downstream areas can be assessed and emergency plans may be provided. The methodology consisted of two sub-models: the first is the dam breach failure model for deriving the breach hydrograph, and the second is the hydrodynamic model for propagating the flood wave downstream of the dam. The breach hydrograph is used as an upstream boundary condition to derive the flood impact in the downstream reach of Al- Udhaim River. The flood inundation maps were visualized in RAS-Mapper in terms of water surface elevation, water depth, flow velocity, and flood arrival time. The maximum recorded values were: 105 m (a.m.s.l.), 18 m, 5.5 m/s, and, respectively. The flow velocity decreased from upstream to downstream of the terrain, which means less risk of erosion in the far reaches downstream of the study area. The inundation maps indicated that the water depth and flow velocity were categorized as Catastrophic limits on the terrain's area. The results offer a way to predict flood extent and showed that the impact of a potential dam break at Al-Udhiam Dam will be serious, therefore, suitable management is needed to overcome this risk. Moreover, the maps produced by this study are useful for developing plans for sustainable flood management. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091739 Full Text: PDF


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 727-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayu Yu ◽  
Liyu Tang ◽  
Chongcheng Chen

Abstract. A tailing dam accident can cause serious ecological disaster and property loss. Simulation of a tailing dam accident in advance is useful for understanding the tailing flow characteristics and assessing the possible extension of the impact area. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3-D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was proposed for reasonably and quickly predicting the flow routing and impact area of mud flow from a dam failure across 3-D terrain. The Navier–Stokes equations and the Bingham–Papanastasiou rheology model were employed as the governing equations and the constitutive model, respectively, and solved numerically in the finite volume method (FVM) scheme. The volume-of-fluid (VOF) method was used to track the interface between the tailings and air. The accuracy of the CFD model and the chosen numerical algorithm were validated using an analytical solution of the channel flow problem and a laboratory experiment on the dam-break problem reported in the literature. In each issue, the obtained results were very close to the analytical solutions or experimental values. The proposed approach was then applied to simulate two scenarios of tailing dam failures, one of which was the Feijão tailing dam that failed on 25 January 2019, and the simulated routing coincided well with the in situ investigation. Therefore, the proposed approach does well in simulating the flow phenomenon of tailings after a dam break, and the numerical results can be used for early warning of disasters and emergency response.


Author(s):  
Gražina ŽIBIENĖ ◽  
Alvydas ŽIBAS ◽  
Goda BLAŽAITYTĖ

The construction of dams in rivers negatively affects ecosystems because dams violate the continuity of rivers, transform the biological and physical structure of the river channels, and the most importantly – alter the hydrological regime. The impact on the hydrology of the river can occur through reducing or increasing flows, altering seasonality of flows, changing the frequency, duration and timing of flow events, etc. In order to determine the extent of the mentioned changes, The Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) software was used in this paper. The results showed that after the construction of Angiriai dam, such changes occurred in IHA Parameters group as: the water conditions of April month decreased by 31 %; 1-day, 3-days, 7-days and 30-days maximum flow decreased; the date of minimum flow occurred 21 days later; duration of high and low pulses and the frequency of low pulses decreased, but the frequency of high pulses increased, etc. The analysis of the Environmental Flow Components showed, that the essential differences were recorded in groups of the small and large floods, when, after the establishment of the Šušvė Reservoir, the large floods no longer took place and the probability of frequency of the small floods didn’t exceed 1 time per year.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengyuan Wang ◽  
Mikhail Traskin ◽  
Dylan S. Small

AbstractThe before-and-after study with multiple unaffected control groups is widely applied to study treatment effects. The current methods usually assume that the control groups’ differences between the before and after periods, i.e. the group time effects, follow a normal distribution. However, there is usually no strong a priori evidence for the normality assumption, and there are not enough control groups to check the assumption. We propose to use a flexible skew-t distribution family to model group time effects, and consider a range of plausible skew-t distributions. Based on the skew-t distribution assumption, we propose a robust-t method to guarantee nominal significance level under a wide range of skew-t distributions, and hence make the inference robust to misspecification of the distribution of group time effects. We also propose a two-stage approach, which has lower power compared to the robust-t method, but provides an opportunity to conduct sensitivity analysis. Hence, the overall method of analysis is to use the robust-t method to test for the overall hypothesized range of shapes of group variation; if the test fails to reject, use the two-stage method to conduct a sensitivity analysis to see if there is a subset of group variation parameters for which we can be confident that there is a treatment effect. We apply the proposed methods to two datasets. One dataset is from the Current Population Survey (CPS) to study the impact of the Mariel Boatlift on Miami unemployment rates between 1979 and 1982.The other dataset contains the student enrollment and grade repeating data in West Germany in the 1960s with which we study the impact of the short school year in 1966–1967 on grade repeating rates.


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