Dam break wave with energy dissipation: Two case studies

Flood waves resulting from dam break and spillway gate malfunction may have dramatic impacts. Two related cases are the overtopping of a dam by flood waves and a sudden water release down a stepped cascade. In each instance, some energy dissipation takes place and classical dam break theory are inappropriate. Both cases were investigated in large-size facilities and in a prototype. New experimental observations are presented. The results highlight a faster wave propagation than predicted by classical theories. The reduced warning time for downstream populations is a major concern and new correlations are proposed to estimate the flood wave arrival.