Experimental investigation of two-dimensional dam-break induced flows

Abstract

The movement on dry and wet beds of two-dimensional flood waves resulting from the instantaneous break of a dam are experimentally investigated using wave meters and pressure transducers in order to record the water depth variations and analyze the behaviour of the resulting flow. All measured data refer to a converging- diverging open-channel flume configuration of rectangular cross section equipped with a hypothetical dam located right at the throat of the flume. Measured signals were recorded and processed via a data aquisition system. The applied measurement technique was very satisfactory, simple and economic. The two-dimensional flow behaviour was well detected. Computational results, using a previously developed unsteady two-dimensional flow computer program were also compared with measurements and the comparisons were satisfactory. The measured data can also be used by other research workers in order to validate their numerical codes.