Model of Dam‐Break Floods for Channels of Arbitrary Cross Section

Abstract

To obtain the relationship between the hydraulic characteristics and the breach shape, a new method is developed for calculation of the hydraulic characteristics of dam‐break waves in an arbitrary channel, whose perimeter can be described by a number of line segments. By a mathematical transformation, the shape parameters of a breach cross section are separated from the integral equation and become a coefficient that can be calculated. The original integral equation of dam‐break flood is transformed into a model equation. This model equation can be treated as a pure mathematical problem. By this model, the hydraulic characteristics of the dam‐break waves with complicated outlet shape can be calculated directly and the accuracy of the method is the same as that of Ritter's solution of a rectangular cross section. In addition to the solving process for an arbitrary section, an example of a complex cross section and the data for a trapezoidal cross section are presented.