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A semi‐analytical approach for predicting peak discharge of floods caused by embankment dam failures
Author(s) -
Wang Bo,
Chen Yunliang,
Wu Chao,
Dong Jianhua,
Ma Xiao,
Song Jiajun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.10896
Subject(s) - robustness (evolution) , embankment dam , levee , dam failure , computer science , water discharge , flood myth , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , geotechnical engineering , geology , biochemistry , chemistry , philosophy , theology , gene
This study presents an analytical solution of dam‐break floods in a trapezoidal channel with detailed solution procedure. An approach predicting the peak discharge of floods caused by embankment dam failures was derived from the aforementioned analytical solution with a database of 27 historical dam failures. The prediction performance of this approach has been proved by comparing with other 14 straightforward equations for estimating the peak discharge. The proposed model with a small uncertainty of predicted peak flow rates has a high coefficient of determination and a small standard error, being ranked in the top four of the 15 methods considered in this paper. The robustness and predictive capability of the proposed model are further demonstrated in two case studies, and both were considered in the previous analyses performed by other investigators. This method provides a simple and transparent tool for engineers to predict the peak discharge and is easy to implement for trial and error calculation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.