A distorted physical model to study sudden dam break flows

Abstract

A distorted physical model, based upon Urkmez Dam in Izmir, Turkey, was built to study sudden dam break flows. The distorted model had a horizontal scale of 1/150 and vertical scale of 1/30, containing dam reservoir, dam body and downstream area—from dam body to Urkmez urban area until the sea coast. In the model, the reservoir is approximately 12 m3, the dam body has a width of 2.9 m and a height of 1.1 m and the downstream area is nearly 200 m2. The Ürkmez dam is chosen since it has reasonable dimensions and it is located close to Ürkmez village. The features creating roughness such as buildings, roads, plant, etc are also reflected in the physical model. The dam break problem is investigated for sudden partial collapse which is simulated by a trapezoidal breach on the dam body. The water depths are measured by using e+ WATER L (level) sensors. The velocities are determined by Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler (UVP) transducers. The propagation of the flood is recorded by a HD camera. The experimental results show that Urkmez area can be flooded in a matter of minutes, at depths reaching up to 3 meters in residential areas. The flood wave can reach in the residential areas in 4 minutes. Flood wave velocities at peak discharge can exceed 55 km/h.