Experimental Investigation on the Impact of Dam-Break Induced Surges on a Vertical Wall

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation on the impact of dam-break-induced surges on a vertical wall. The instantaneous surge height and dynamic pressure on a vertical wall were measured for surges with different reservoir depths of H = 200 mm, 250 mm, and 300 mm. The time-histories of horizontal pressure on the wall were measured using the miniaturized pressure transducers, and the surge heights were recorded with an ultrasonic sensor. The relationships between dynamic pressure and surge height on the vertical wall and during the impact were obtained from recorded raw data. The experimental results highlighted detailed processes on the variation of impact pressure during the surge propagation, impact on the wall, runup, falling, and breakup of the turbulent flow. The time-histories of surge height and dynamic pressure were analyzed, and the results were compared with the hydrostatic pressure on the wall to study wave breaking mechanism of tsunami waves on the wall. Dynamic pressures at the impact instant were found to be approximately three times the corresponding static pressure in the bed, in good agreement with previous research Moreover, the maximum surge runup heights on the wall were between 2.1 and 2.3 times the corresponding initial reservoir depths. The vertical distributions of impact pressure were divided into two hydrodynamic regimes. Based on the impact duration, the first regime occurred less than 0.1 s after the impact with highly non-linear pressure distributions, and the second regime showed a semi-hydrostatic pressure distribution from 0.5 s to 0.7 s. The results presented in this study are suitable for the design of coastal infrastructures and can be used to validate numerical models.

Design of Flood Barrier with Developed IoT-Based Flood Detection and Monitoring Systems

“…The FEA process comprises sequential steps, including geometry modeling, material specification, the division into multiple elements or meshes, application of loading conditions, calculations, and analysis of loading outcomes [22]. Liu et al [23] stated that the deterioration of water barriers in dams or rivers is attributed to hydrostatic pressure, which signifies the force exerted by the depth and density of the liquid. Thus, in this study, loading was simulated in the form of hydrostatic pressure.…”

Modelling the impact of a dam‐break wave on a vertical wall

“…(2020), Liu et al. (2022) and Xie and Shimozono (2022) investigated a similar experimental layout. Interestingly, Liu et al.…”

“…They found that the maximum pressure peak sampled by the pressure transducers was significantly larger for the centred sensor than for the displaced one. More recently, Shen et al (2020), Liu et al (2022) and Xie and Shimozono (2022) investigated a similar experimental layout. Interestingly, Liu et al (2022) showed that the horizontal dynamic pressure peaked when the wave run-up height was at its minimum level.…”

“…More recently, Shen et al (2020), Liu et al (2022) and Xie and Shimozono (2022) investigated a similar experimental layout. Interestingly, Liu et al (2022) showed that the horizontal dynamic pressure peaked when the wave run-up height was at its minimum level. As the surge started falling off the wall and breaking at its base, the magnitude of the dynamic pressure was close to that of the hydrostatic pressure.…”