Distorted Physical Model to Study Sudden Partial Dam Break Flows in an Urban Area

Abstract

AbstractA distorted physical model, based on Urkmez Dam in Izmir, Turkey, was built to study sudden partial dam break flows. The distorted model had a horizontal scale of 1/150 and a vertical scale of 1/30, containing dam reservoir, dam body, and downstream area—from dam body to Urkmez urban area until the sea coast. In the model, the reservoir is approximately 12 m3, the dam body has a width of 2.84 m and a height of 1.07 m, and the downstream area is nearly 200 m2. The Urkmez Dam was chosen because Urkmez Town is located right at its downstream area, allowing the study of dam break flows in an urban area. Furthermore, the dimensions were suitable such that it allowed the construction of a physical model (dam reservoir, dam body, and downstream area) having a horizontal scale of 1/150 in the available space of 300 m2. The features creating roughness such as buildings, bridge, and roads were also reflected in the physical model. The dam break flow was investigated for sudden partial collapse, which was...