Author(s): Juliano Ribeiro; Jean-Louis Boillat; Rafael Duarte; Georges Darbre
Linked Author(s): Rafael Duarte
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The dam break of a silted-up reservoir generates a wave composed of water and sediments. This biphasic flow can be extremely destructive at the downstream course and two parameters are very important to quantify the risk: the maximum wave height and the wave propagation velocity. In order to define the time and spatial evolution of the two parameters mentioned, an experimental study has been conducted at the Laboratory of Hydraulic Constructions of the ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne. Tests have been done to investigate the influence of the silting degree of the reservoir as well as the grain size distribution on the wave height and velocity. The experimental results have been compared with the simple dam break wave without sediments and empirical formulas have been proposed. Final recommendations and conclusions are drawn concerning the safety measures downstream from silted-up dams.
Year: 2009