Numerical modelling of hydrological safety assignment in dams with IBER

Abstract

The hydrological safety of dams is a key factor to be analysed in order to avoid human and economic losses. The exceedance structures of the dams play a crucial role in its hydrological safety. They are usually designed by means of hydrological methods that solve analytical solutions that follow several simplifications. The numerical code IBER, which can combine a hydrologic study with a hydraulic model, could provide more accurate results in order to obtain peak flows and to calculate exceedance levels of a dam. In the present work, both analytical and numerical methods are applied to analyse the hydrological safety of “La Esperanza” dam (Tulancingo, Hidalgo State, Mexico). Numerical results show that this dam could be at hydrological risk for peak flow values associated to return periods higher than 15 years. In order to improve the hydrological safety of the dam, a series of modifications of the geometry of the exceedance structures are also simulated using the IBER software.