Dam-break flows during initial stage using SWE and RANS approaches

Ozmen-Cagatay H., Kocaman S.

Journal of Hydraulic Research, vol.48, no.5, pp.603-611, 2010 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 48 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/00221686.2010.507342
  • Journal Name: Journal of Hydraulic Research
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.603-611
  • Keywords: Computational fluid dynamics, dam-break, digital image processing, flood wave propagation, surface profile, volume of fluid
  • Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Experimental and numerical results relating to dam-break flows are compared. Dam-break waves were generated by the quasi-instantaneous removal of a plate in a smooth prismatic channel of rectangular cross-section over horizontal dry and wet beds. The laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the initial stages of the free surface profiles using digital image processing. The flow characteristics were detected by applying an adequate, simple and economical measuring technique. The experimental results were compared with the results of a commercially available CFD program, solving the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the k- turbulence model involving the shallow-water equations. Measured and computed free surface profiles during the initial dam-break stages indicate that although both models predict the dam-break flow with a reasonable accuracy, the agreement using the RANS model is better. © 2010 International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.