Assessing the impact of an arch-dam breach magnitude and reservoir inflow on flood maps

Abstract

Different scenarios of an arch-dam breach and their impact on the time-space evolution of flood waves are analysed using numerical modelling. As the accidents involving this type of dam are among the most catastrophic ones, the 108 m in height Paltinu arch-dam, Romania, was chosen as a case study due to its problems in the past. Three dam breach magnitudes and two inflow hydrographs for the worst-case scenario of Normal Operating Pool elevation in the reservoir were chosen as variable parameters, to assess their influence on the dam break wave characteristics and downstream flooded areas. The flood was routed along the 18 km reach of the Doftana River down to the confluence with the Prahova River. A 2D numerical model was set up with the help of HEC-RAS software, which was also used to analyse the resulting hazard maps under a GIS environment. Comparison of inundation boundary, maximum depths and velocities, as well as the arrival time at control sections allow for conclusions to be drawn. These predictive results of shape, magnitude, and time to peak of the flood waves are essential for flood risk management to obtain the risk maps, estimated damage costs, and possible affected areas. HIGHLIGHTS The study investigates through 2D numerical modeling the consequences of a possible arch-dam failure in Romania.; The study proposes a new methodology to assess the influence of different dam breach scenarios on the time-space evolution of flood waves.; The proposed methodology could be applied to other similar flood studies.; The research shows the advantages of using the proposed numerical method.;

Keywords

• 2d numerical simulations
• arch-dam failure
• flood hazard map
• flood wave routing
• hec-ras
• paltinu dam