A computational investigation of the hydrodynamics of the Badush dam in northern Iraq

Abstract

A computational analysis of the hydrodynamics of the Badush dam in Iraq is presented, which is planned to be reconstructed as a repulse dam, to prevent the Mosul city, in case of a failure of the Mosul dam. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is applied in combination with Geometric Information System (GIS) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM). In the first part of the study, a hydrologic study of a possible Mosul dam failure is performed, predicting the important parameters for a possible flooding of Mosul city. Here, a two-dimensional, depth-averaged shallow water equations are used to formulate the flow. Based on GIS and DEM, the required reservoir size and the water level of the Badush dam are predicted, for its acting as a repulse dam. Subsequently, a computational model of the reconstructed Badush dam is developed, combining the proposed construction with the local geographic topology to achieve a perfect fit. Finally, the water flow through the bottom outlets and stilling basin of the proposed dam is calculated by an unsteady, three-dimensional CFD analysis of the turbulent, free-surface flow. The CFD model is validated by comparing the predictions with measurements obtained on a physical model, where a quite satisfactory agreement is observed.