Abstract
An erosion and force/moments equilibrium‐based numerical method is proposed to simulate one‐dimensional headcut migration in cohesive embankment overtopping breaches and to simulate the one‐dimensional breach process of zoned embankment dams before they fully breach through. At each time step of the simulation the depths and velocities of the breach outflow are calculated by solving the one‐dimensional shallow water equations, three‐dimensional slope stability is checked, and the eroded soil and instable soil block are removed. The method was tested using data from a U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service cohesive embankment and the Yahekou zoned fuse plug. Test results showed that the proposed method predicts well the one‐dimensional headcut shape in the cohesive dam and the breach shape in the zoned embankment dam provided that the inputs are appropriately assigned. Sensitivity studies showed that the breach processes for a weakly cohesive dam under a small overtopping depth and a highly cohesive dam are controlled by erosion only. They also showed that the breach processes for a weakly cohesive dam under a relatively large overtopping depth, a noncohesive dam, and a zoned embankment dam are all controlled by erosion and force/moments equilibrium.
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