Numerical study of the effect of mobile bed elevation on dam-break flood evolution

The paper aims to evaluate the effect of the mobile bed elevation and sediment material on flood characteristics induced by instantaneous dam-break. The free surface flow was scrutinized through the volume of fluid method (VOF) employing a CFD commercial package. The numerical model was verified using laboratory data available in the literature. The results declared the significant role of the bed elevation and material on the dam-break wave propagation over the erodible beds. Accordingly, the increment in downstream bed elevation led to a decrease in free surface and bed curvature in the near field, flood velocity, and advancing-distance of the wave-front edge. The numerical model showed high performance in capturing the wave propagation and sediment transport processes under the rapid unsteady flow conditions.

Keywords:

Dam-break flood , mobile bed , bed elevation , VOF , Sediment transport.