The impact of a multilevel protection column on the propagation of a water wave and pressure distribution during a dam break: Numerical simulation

Abstract

This paper considered the behavior of an incompressible fluid, sediment and solid particles debris at the time of a dam break. This process was studied numerically on the basis of three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in combination with the k-ω turbulence model. The VOF (Volume of Fluid) method was used to simulate the fluid and sediment. In order to simulate the movement of water and sediment, a combination of Newtonian and non-Newtonian models was carried out. The effect of water flow on the transport of solid particles and moving sediments is also considered. In order to be convinced of the effectiveness and reliability of the model, the numerical results were compared with experimental data and with calculated data performed by other authors. Further, a proven mathematical model is applied to numerically simulate the movement of fluid behind the dam during the break of the dam body with a riverbed landscape, taking into account multi-level protection. The pressure that the water flow exerts on the additional dam in downstream in the case of cylindrical columns and without them was calculated. Since the columns block the path of solid particles, the pressure exerted on the additional dam is noticeably reduced, and in this case it can be assumed that a potential dam break will not occur, and if it does, then with the least damage. This configuration imitates a robust multi-level protection system that can be used to prevent the serious consequences of a dam failure.