Sensitivity analysis for dam breach parameters using different approaches for earth-fill dam

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.

Experimental Investigation of the Outburst Discharge of Landslide Dam Overtopping Failure

Research on the factors and mechanisms that influence outburst floods are essential for estimating outflow hydrographs and the resulting inundation. In this study, large flume tests are conducted to investigate the effects of the upstream inflow and the presence of loose erodible deposits on the breaching flow and the subsequent outburst floods. Experimental results reveal that hydrographs of the breaching flow and outburst flood can be divided into three stages where each stage is separated by inflection points and peak discharges. It is found that the larger the inflow discharge, the larger the peak discharge of the outburst flood and the shorter the time needed to reach the peak and inflection discharges of the outburst flood. The breaching flow decreases along the longitudinal direction at rates that increase with the inflow discharge. The ratio between the length of the upstream dam shoulder and the dam width is inversely related to the ratio of the outburst discharge to inflow discharge. We also show that the presence of loose deposits at the dam toe can amplify the peak discharge of outburst flood by increasing the solids content of the water flow.

Hydraulic Erosion Rate of Reinforced Tailings: Laboratory Investigation and Prediction Model

Tailings dams are high-potential-energy dams built to store various ore tailings, and the overtopping failure caused by hydraulic erosion is one of the most common failure modes. The characteristics of hydraulic erosion of the reinforced tailings were studied by using the self-made erosion apparatus with four kinds of reinforcement spacing 2.5, 1.7, 1.3, and 1.0 cm, respectively. The test results show a positive correlation between the reinforcement spacing and erosion rate of tailings. Based on the sediment scouring theory, the scouring constant in the erosion rate formula is determined to be 0.056 mm/s; a prediction model for the hydraulic erosion rate of reinforced tailings is established by introducing the collapse coefficient into the results of the overflow test of reinforced tailings. This model can provide a reference for the prediction of overtopping-induced erosion failure of the reinforced tailings dam.

2D-HEC-RAS Modeling of Flood Wave Propagation in a Semi-Arid Area Due to Dam Overtopping Failure

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

Study on Earthquake-Induced Sloshing Waves in Moraine-Dammed Lakes

Large surface water waves can be triggered in moraine-dammed lakes during earthquakes and may lead to the overtopping failure of moraine dams. In the earthquake-prone Himalayas, there are thousands of moraine-dammed lakes; their outburst may lead to catastrophic disasters (e.g. floods and debris flow), posing severe threats to humans and infrastructures downstream. This paper experimentally studied earthquake-induced water waves (EWWs) in moraine-dammed lakes and examined the effects of several factors (e.g. water depth, earthquake parameters, and uneven lake basin). The experimental results suggest that the EWWs positively correlate to the earthquake wave, and the maximum height of the EWWs increases by 10%–15% when the effect of the uneven lake basin is considered. Based on the experiment data, we derived a calculation equation to estimate the maximum amplitude of EWWs considering the basin effect, and proposed a fast risk assessment method for moraine lakes due to overtopping EWWs. Finally, based on the method, we assessed the failure risk of the moraine lakes located in the Gyirong river basin where the China–Nepal corridor crosses. The study broadens understandings of the risk source of moraine-dammed lakes.

Analysis of Dam Overtopping Failure Risks Caused by Landslide-Induced Surges Considering Spatial Variability of Material Parameters

Many of the existing reservoir dams are constructed in alpine and gorge regions, where the topography and geological conditions are complicated, bank slopes are steep, and landslides have a high potential to occur. Surges triggered by landslides in the reservoir are one of the major causes of dam overtopping failures. Many factors affect the slope stability of reservoir banks and the height of surges triggered by landslides, such as spatial variability of material properties, speed of landslides, etc. To reasonably evaluate dam overtopping risk caused by landslide-induced surges is a key technology in engineering that is urgent to be solved. Therefore, a novel risk analysis method for overtopping failures caused by waves triggered by landslides induced by bank instability considering the spatial variability of material parameters is proposed in this study. Based on the random field theory, the simulation method for the spatial variability of material parameters is proposed, and the most dangerous slip surface of the reservoir bank slope is determined with the minimum value of the safety factors. The proxy risk analysis models for both the slope instability and dam overtopping are constructed with the consideration of spatial variability of material parameters, and then the dam overtopping failure risk caused by landslide-induced surges is calculated using the Monte-Carlo sampling. The proposed models are applied to a practical engineering project. Results show that the spatial variability of material properties significantly affects the instability risk of slopes, without considering which the risks of slope instability and dam overtopping may be overestimated. This study gives a more reasonable and realistic risk assessment of dam overtopping failures, which can provide technical support for the safety evaluation and risk control of reservoir dams.

Modeling Flood Peak Discharge Caused by Overtopping Failure of a Landslide Dam

Overtopping failure often occurs in landslide dams, resulting in the formation of strong destructive floods. As an important hydraulic parameter to describe floods, the peak discharge often determines the downstream disaster degree. Based on 67 groups of landslide dam overtopping failure cases all over the world, this paper constructs the calculation model for peak discharge of landslide dam failure. The model considers the influence of dam erodibility, breach shape, dam shape and reservoir capacity on the peak discharge. Finally, the model is compared with the existing models. The results show that the new model has a higher accuracy than the existing models and the simulation accuracy of the two outburst peak discharges of Baige dammed lake in Jinsha River (10 October 2018 and 3 November 2018) is higher (the relative error is 0.73% and 6.68%, respectively), because the model in this study considers more parameters (the breach shape, the landslide dam erodibility) than the existing models. The research results can provide an important reference for formulating accurate and effective disaster prevention and mitigation measures for such disasters.

The formation processes and development characteristics of sandbars due to outburst flood triggered by landslide dam overtopping failure

Sandbars are an essential form of riverbed morphology which could be affected by landslide dams. However, few studies have focused on the formation processes and development characteristics of sandbars triggered by outburst flood. In such a way, eight group dam failure experiments with 4 to 7 times of dam length movable bed is carried out to study the temporal and spatial distributions of 25 sandbars along the riverbeds, the sandbars geometric characteristics, and the influence of outburst flow hydraulic characteristics on developments of sandbars. The results show that sandbars are formed after peak discharge of outburst flow. The number of sandbars is 0.4 to 1.0 times the ratio of river bed length to dam length. Besides, sandbars have the characteristic of lengthening towards upstream during the failure process. Sandbars' upstream edges have a more extensive development than sandbars downstream edges. The length of a sandbar along the channel changes faster than the sandbar's width and height. The sandbars' length and width are about 10 to 80 and 1 to 7 times of average height, respectively, and the average heights of sandbars are about 1 to 3.5 times the maximum particle size. Sandbars' lengths make a more significant impact on sandbars' volumes than widths and heights. It found that the Froude number has a significant influence on the sediment carrying capacity. And the sediment concentrations in volumes of the outburst flow at the upstream edges of all sandbars are greater than those at the downstream edges of sandbars. Meanwhile, the sediment carrying capacities of the outburst flow at the upstream edges of sandbars are smaller than those at the sandbars' downstream edges. And the differences between the sediment concentrations and the sediment carrying capacities determine the sedimentation or entrainment. The results can reference the research on the river channel's geomorphological characteristics affected by the outburst flood.