DAMBRK

Modeling Methodology
Dam Failures: Worldwide Statistics
Piping, Seepage, Slides, Earthquake--------------------------------------------- 40 - 50%
Overtopping --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30 - 35%
Misc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 - 30%
Overtopping
Only overtopping can be predicted by a few of the current Dam - Breach
Flood Models.
Overtopping prediction subject to errors in the Rainfall - Runoff Hydrologic
Model used to predict the inflow to the reservoir.
Extent of overtopping to cause dam - failure is not well understood. It is
highly dependent on the type of dam (concrete or earthfill).
Earthfill Duration and Magnitude of overtopping flow
Concrete Magnitude of overtopping flow
Maximum Possible Wave
Before Failure
Figure 1: Dam just before failure.
Just after complete and sudden failure
Figure 2: Dam just after failure.
Flood Wave Attenuation
Figure 3: Location of various H values.
Teton: H
1
57 ft at Dam
H
2
14 ft at 9 miles
H
3
9 ft at 60 miles
Travel Time of Flood Wave Peak
Mi. Hr.
Teton: 1 to 4 Mi/ Hr Rexburg 16 5
Idaho Falls 50 34
Buffalo Creek: 4 to 7 Mi/ Hr Stowe 7 1
Man 16 3
Toccoa: 4 Mi/ Hr College 0.7 0.2
Dam - Breach Flood Routing Models
Some Improvements During the Last Decade:
1. 1-Dimensional EquationsDAMPENS of Unsteady Flow
2. Effects of Downstream Dams and/ or Bridge - Embankments on Flood
Propagation
3. Breach Dynamics
a) Time of Formation
b) Size
c) Shape
Not with standing the above improvements, errors of 2 feet or more can be
expected in the flow peak profile.
This is evidence by comparison of various Dam - Breach Flood Medels with
the observed flooding produced by the Teton, Toccoa, Laurel Run, and
Buffalo Creek dam - failure floods.
Outflow from Dam
Affected by:
1. Size and shape of beach as a function of time
2. Height of dam
3. Storage volume of reservoir
4. Inflow to reservoir
5. Downstream channel conditions (channel size, roughness) which may
cause submerged weir flow through the breach
Dam - Break Wave Transformation
Affected by:
1. Initial shape
2. Storage volume of downstream valley
3. Acceleration components of wave
4. Resistance to flow through downstream valley
Figure 4: Small Storage Volume in Reservoir
Figure 5: Large Storage Volume in Reservoir
7. Affect of uncertainty in parameters of breach dampens out
downstream
Raising n will
Locally raise WSEL
Increase W.S. slope downstream
Decrease travel time
Changing n typically changes Q by about the same percent
Stage depends on XS shape
Figure 6: Pre-forecast flash flood envelope.
DAMBRK (Dam Break)
1. Develops outflow hydrograph due to dam failure.
2. Failure may be partial and time-dependent.
3. Simulates spillway flows, overtopping flows, time-dependent gated flows.
4. Routes outflow hydrograph hydraulically through downstream valley
using expanded form of 1-D Saint - Venant Equations.
5. Considers affects of: downstream dams, bridges, levees, tributaries, off-
channel storage areas, river sinuosity, backwater from tides.
6. Flow may be Newtonian (water) or non-Newtonian (mud/ debris)
7. Produces output of: high water profile along valley, flood arrival times,
flow/ stage hydrographs.
Expanded Saint - Venant Equations - 1
( )
( )
[ ]
( )

Q
x
s A A
t
q
o
+
+

(
0
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )

sQ
t
Q A
x
gA
h
x
S S S L
f e i
+ + + + +
|
.

`
,
+
2
0
/
Where:
Q = Flow
x = Distance along river
t = Time
A = Active cross-sectional area of flow
A
o
= Inactive (Dead) cross-sectional area
q = Lateral inflow or outflow
s = Sinuosity factor
g = Acceleration due to gravity
h = Water surface elevation
S
f
= Friction slope due to boundary friction
S
i
= Internal friction slope due to non-Newtonian fluid properties
L = Momentum effect of lateral inflow/ outflow
Expanded Saint-Venant Equations - 2
S
QQ
K
f

2
( )
S
k Q A
g x
e

/
2
2
( )
( )
( )
S
b Q
AD
b
D
i b
o
b
b
b

+
+
+

]
]
]
]
+

2
2
2
1
1
/
Where:
K = Channel conveyance factor
k = Expansion/ contraction loss factor
= Apparent viscosity of fluid
= Unit weight of fluid

o
= Shear strength of fluid
b = 1/ m where: m = Power of fluids stress/ strain relation
m = 1 if Newtonian fluid or Binghan plastic fluid
D = A/ B = Hydraulic depth where: A = Wetted area
B = Top width of active
cross-section
Internal Boundaries - 1
Q Q Q
s b
+ where: Q
s
= Flow through structure
Q
b
= Flow through breach
Dams
( ) ( ) ( ) Q c L h h c A h h c L h h Q
s s s s g g g d d d t
+ + +
1 5
0 5
1 5 .
.
.
( ) ( )
[ ]
Q c k b h h z h h
b v s b b
+ 31 2 45
1 5 2 5
. .
. .
k
h h
h h
s
t b
b

]
]
]
10 27 8 0 67
3
. . .
Where:
c
s
,L
s
,h
s
= Spillway coefficient, length, crested elevation
c
g
, A
g
, h
g
= Gate coefficient, area, sill elevation
c
d
, L
d
, H
d
= Dam crest coefficient, length, crested elevation
Q
t
= Head independent flow (turbines, etc.)
c
v
= Velocity of approach correction
k
s
= Submergence correction
b, z, h
b
= Breach bottom width, side slope, bottom elevation
b b t t
o f
/ where: b
o
= Final bottom width
t = Time
t
f
= Time of failure for breach
h = Water surface elevation upstream of structure
h
t
= Water surface elevation downstream of structure
Internal Boundaries - 2
Q Q Q
s b
+ where: Q
s
= Flow through structure
Q
b
= Flow through breach
Bridges
( ) ( ) Q c g A h h C k h h
s t d s c
+ 2
0 5 1 5 . .
Where:
C = Bridge flow coefficient
A = Bridge flow area
h
c
, c
e
, L
e
= Bridge embankment crest elevation, flow loss
coefficient, length
c
e
L
e
= C
d
= Coefficient of discharge
Special Features of DAMBRK
Floodplain Compartments
Figure 7: Location of floodplain compartments.
Tributary Inflows
Figure 8: Location of tributary inflows
Landslide Waves
Figure 9: Location of landslide waves
DAMBRK
1. Simulation of flows which change with time and location between
subcritical and supercritical
2. Improvement of numerical robustness of 4 pt. implicit solution
3. Nonlinear behavior of breach formation
4. Interactive, user-friendly data input
Breach
1. Predicts breach size, formation time, and shape for earthen dams
(embankments) and naturally-formed landslide blockages.
2. Predicts outflow hydrograph due to breach initiated by overtopping or
piping of the earthen dam.
3. Considers:
a) Effect of downstream face cover
b) Non-homogeneity of dam materials
c) Slope stability
d) Reservoir inflows, reservoir outflow, reservoir storage.
Breach Erosion Uses
Modified Meyer - Peter & Muller Equation
( ) Q
D
D
D
n
S DS D
s c

|
.

`
,
364 0 0054
90
30
0 2
1 1
50
2
3
. .
.
.

Where:
D
90
= Grain size (mm) for which 90% is finer
D
50
= Grain size (mm) for which 50% is finer
D
30
= Grain size (mm) for which 30% is finer
n D 0 013
50
0 167
.
.
D = Hydraulic depth of flow
S = Slope of breach

c
= Shields critical slope which is a function of the D50 grain size
Figure 10: Teton outflow hydrograph produced by BREACH model.
DAM-BREAK Flood Forecasting Model
Some General Requirements:
1. Wide applicability
2. Reasonably small computational requirements
3. Data input which varies from a minimum level to a maximum level
4. Data input must be obtainable with available sources
5. Computational scheme must be robust (stable)
DAM- BREAK Model Components
1. Breach description (shape vs. time)
2. Downstream Flood Routing
3. Reservoir routing to produce outflow hydrograph
a) Storage routing
b) Dynamic routing
Features of DAM-BREAK Flood Forecasting Model
Outflow from reservoir:
1. Reservoir inflow
2. Reservoir storage characteristics
3. Spillway (uncontrolled and gated) and turbine flows
4. Crest overflow
5. Breach outflow (broad crested weir flow with submergence correction)
Breach Characteristics:
1. Time dependent geometry
2. Triangular, rectangular or trapezoidal shape
3. Erosion formed breach with time dependent width starting at top of
dam
4. Piping formed breach with time dependent width starting at any
prescribed elevation
5. Collapse failure, constant width, approaching instantaneous
Reservoir routing:
1. Storage type, assumes level pool condition
2. dynamic type, considers negative wave and/ or inflow flood wave
effects
Downstream routing (Dynamic):
1. One-dimensional unsteady flow equations
2. Conservation form of equations
3. Weighted 4-pt implicit non-linear finite difference solution
4. Variable time step
5. Variable reach lengths between cross sections
6. Option to create cross-sections via linear interpolation
7. Off channel storage effects
8. Subcritical or supercritical flows
9. Lateral inflows from tributaries
10. Lateral outflow (loss function)
11. Manning roughness coefficient function of distance and stage
12. Expansion - contraction losses
13. Downstream boundary - generated loop rating or flow control
structure
14. Initial conditions automatically computed via gradually varied steady
flow equations
15. Internal computational checks to provide robust computational
procedure
Additional capabilities of model:
1. Multiple dam capabilities
2. Supercritical reach - subcritical reach sequence capability
3. Bridge embankment effects
4. Model easily used for only downstream routing
5. Tributary dam failure can be analyzed by two applications of model
6. Feasible computational requirements (Weton analysis required less
than 20 sec. cpu time)
7. Minimal data acceptance for generating approximate results
Breach Characteristics
Type of Dam Ave. Breach Width (b) Time of Failure ()
Earth (Well constructed) 2H
d
< b < 5H
d
0.1 0.5
Earth 2H
d
< b < 5H
d
0.1 0.5
Flag Pile b 0.8 w .2
Concrete (gravity) b 0.5 w .2
Concrete (arch) b 0.8 w .1
Figure 11: Location of equation variables.
Triangular Breach:
Figure 12: Location of equation variables in a triangular breach.
Rectangular Breach:
Figure 13: Location of equation variables in a rectangular reach.
Trapezoidal Breach:
Figure 14: Location of equation variables in a trapezoidal reach.
Reservoir Hydraulics
Note: Breach starts forming when h HF
Figure 15: Reservoir profile view.
Dam Breach Outflow
Figure 16: Location of equation variables for breach outflow.
Q Q Q
b s
+
Where:
Q
b
= Breach flow
Q
s
= Spillway and other outflow
( ) ( ) Q K c BB
t
h h z h h
b s v
b
b b
+

]
]
]
31 2 45
1 5 2 5
. .
. .

( ) ( ) ( ) Q K c h h cg h h c h h Q
s ss s s b d d t
+ + +
1 5 0 5 1 5 . . .
Where:
K
s
= 1.0 (If r 0.67)
K
s
= 1.0 - 27.8(rs - 0.67)
3
(If r > 0.67)
r = (h-h
t
)/ (h-h
b
)
K
ss
= 1.0 (If rs 0.67)
K
ss
= 1.0 - 27.8(rs - 0.67)
3
(If rs > 0.67)
rs = (h-h
t
)/ (h-h
s
)
c
y
= 1.0 + 0.023(V
2
/ (h-h
b
)
t
b
= Time since breach began forming
Outflow Hydrograph
Reservoir (level pool) routing
I Q
s
t

( ) s
A A
h h
s s

+ |
.

`
,

2
( )
( )
A A
h h
t
Q Q I I
s s
+

+ +

0
Where:
As = Surface area
As = Surface area at t-t
h = Water surface elevation
h = Water surface elevation at t-t
t = Time step
Q = Total instantaneous outflow
Q = Outflow at t-t
I = Inflow
I = Inflow at t-t
Dynamic wave routing
Downstream boundary: Q Q Q
b s
+
A h A
h h
t
Q h Q I I
s s
( )

( )

+

+ +

0
Where:
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) Q h c h h c h h c h h c h h c h h
b b s g d
( ) + + + + +
1 2 3 4 5
3
2
5
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
Solve A h A
h h
t
Q h Q I I
s s
( )

( )

+

+ +

0 by Newton-Raphson Iterations
for h. Then use h to compute Q(h). Then advance to the next time and
repeat.
Flood Routing
Saint-Venant equations of unsteady flow:
Conservation of mass:

( )
( )
(
( )
)
Q
x
A A
t
q +
+

0
0
Conservation of momentum:

( )
( )
( / )
( )
( )
( )
.
/
( / )
( )
Q
t
Q A
x
gA
h
x
S S L
S
QQ
A R
R A B
S
k
g
Q A
x
L fv
f e
f
e
+ + + +
|
.

`
,

2
2
2
2
0
2 2
2
2
3
Where:
Q = Flow, cfs
A = Cross-section area, ft
B = Top width, ft
x = Distance along river, ft
t = Time, sec
q = Lateral inflow (+) or outflow (-)
h = Water surface elevation, ft
g = 37.2 ft/ sec
2
Figure 17: Location of top width.
Types of Hydraulic Flood Routing Methods

( )
( )
( / )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( / )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( / )
Q
t
Q A
x
gA
h
x
S
h y z
h
x
y
x
z
x
y
x
S
Q
t
Q A
x
gA
y
x
S S
S
gA
Q
t gA
Q A
f
f
f
+ + +
|
.

`
,

+
+
+ + +
|
.

`
,


2
0
2
0
2
0
0
1 1
( )
( )
( )
:
( )
( )
:
( )
( )
( )
( )
( / )
( )
:
x
y
x
S
S S
S
y
x
S
y
x gA
Q
t gA
Q A
s
f
o
+

0
0
0
2
1 1
Kinematic Routing
S Diffusion Routing
S Dynamic Routing
f
f
Routing Model Selection
Kinematic:
T S
n q E
p
p
0
1 6
1 2 0 2
0 2
.
. .
.

>
Diffusion:
T S n
q E
p o
p
0 7 0 6
0 4
0 003
. .
.

>
q a
Q
ka
a
S
n m
m
m
m
m
p
p
m

|
.

`
,

+
+

+
+
+
5
2 5
1
2
5
3
159
1
1
3 5
3
3 5
0
2
.
( )
( )

m = Cross section shape parameter

T
p
= Time of rise of hydrograph, hr
S
0
= Bottom slope ft/ ft
n = Manning n
q
p
= Unit width peak discharge, (ft
3
/ sec)/ ft
E = Allowable routing error, percent
Boundary Conditions
Upstream: Flow Q Q t
j
1
1 +
( )
Water elevation h h t
j
1
1 +
( ) (not in DAMBRK)
Downstream: Flow Q Q t
N
j +

1
( )
Water elevation h h t
N
j +

1
( )
Critical flow Q g
A
B
N
j
N
j
+
+

|
.

`
,

1
1
3
2
1
2
Rating curve Q Q
N
j +

Q Q Q Q
h h
h h
k k k
N
j
N
k k
( )
( )
+

+
+
+
1
1
1
Synthetic loop rating Q
n
AR S
N
j
N
j + +

1 1
149 2
3
1
2
.
( )
Location of Downstream Boundary
Figure 18: Example 1 of correct downstream boundaries.
Figure 19: Example 2 of correct downstream boundaries.
Figure 20: Example 3 of correct downstream boundaries.
Flood-Plain Model Plan View
Figure 21: Plan view of the flood-plain model.
Flood-Plain Model Cross-Sections
Figure 22: Cross-section locations for flood-plain model.
Volume Losses During Downstream Routing
q
V P
L
m
L
f
0 00458 .
T
T T

+
1 2
2
Figure 23: Location of equation variables T
1
and T
2
.
P: 0 < P < .3
Teton: P = .25 (Wide valley (10 mi.), Irrigation levels, Canals)
Buffalo Creek: P = .25 (Sludge)
Narrow Valley: 0 < P < 0.5 (Silt, Loam)
Wide Valley: 0.5 < P < .10 (Sand, Loam)
Time Distribution: q
Q Q
Q Q
q
i
j i
j
i
i
m
i

|
.

`
,

max
Q
maxi
obtained from linear interpolation between max flow at dam and
max flow at downstream extremity of valley (Q
maxD
)
Usually, simulate DAM-BREAK first with qm=QLL=0. Q
maxD
=0
Then simulate with Q
maxD
obtained from first simulation.
Landslides
Figure 24: Landslide cross-sections.
Comparison of NWS DAMBRK and HEC-1
Outflow of Hydrograph:
1. Initial breach width is the same as the final breach width in HEC-1 but
in DAMBRK initial width is zero.
2. Tailwater submergence effects are considered in DAMBRK but
neglected in HEC-1.
3. DAMBRK uses either level pool (storage routing) or the St. Venant
unsteady flow equations for the reservoir routing while HEC-1 uses
only level pool routing.
Downstream Routing:
1. DAMBRK uses St. Venant equations while HEC-1 DB uses Modified
Pools (storage routing)
2. HEC-1 does not consider the effects of:
a) multiple dams
b) bridges/ embankments
c) flow losses
d) dead storage areas
e) special treatment of floodplains
f) land slides
Typical Difficulties using DAMBRK
1. Data errors
2. Data not entered correctly
3. Model parameters not understood
4. Starting with too complex of a problem
5. Subcritical/ Supercritical flow
6. Expanding/ Contracting cross-sections
7. Wide, float overbank (floodplain)
8. x, t too large
Interpolation of Cross-section
Example of incorrect data (BS top widths)
Cross-section 1 0 100. 1000. 1200.
Cross-section 2 0 60. 95. 400. 450. 950. 1075.
Incorrect because of: 1) Unequal number of top widths
2) Lack of geometric similarity
Figure 25: Examples of incorrect cross-section top widths.
Example of incorrect data (BS top widths)
Figure 26: Cross-section 1
Cross-section 1 0 100. 600. 700. 850.
Cross-section 2 0 60. 105. 750. 830.
Incorrect because of: 1) Lack of geometric similarity
Figure 27: Cross-section 2.
Simplify the problem to start.
Then, add complexities one or two at a time.
Example: Variable geometry and roughness
2 bridges
Levees along both sides
1. Prismatic geometry, constant roughness
2. Variable geometry, variable roughness
3. Add 1 bridge, then the other
4. Add levees
Figure 28: Example of mixed flow.
x reduction at severe changes in water surface slope
Figure 29: Cross-section refinement.
Subcritical/Supercritical Flow
Figure 30: Example of supercritical and subcritical flow.
1. Adjust Manning n so that flow is subcritical or supercritical througout the
reach
S
n
D
c
77000
2
1
3
Where:
Sc = Critical slope, ft/ mi
n = Manning n
D = A/ B = Hydraulic depth, ft
2. Use internal boundary condition for short reach through rapids
a) rating curve
b) critical flow/ depth relation
3. Split the total reach into separate reaches of only subcritical or
supercritical
4. New algorithm may be the approach to use
Wide Overbanks
1. Friction Slope
( )
S
n Q
A R
n Q
A
f
A
B

2 2
2
2 2
2
2 2
2 2
4
3
4
3
.
.
Figure 31: Observed change in hydraulic radius with elevation.
S
Q
K
f

2
2
Figure 32: Change in hydraulic radius.
Where:
K
n
A R
n
A R
n
A R
c
c c
L
L L
R
R R
+ +
149 149 149 4
3
4
3
4
3
. . .
Figure 33: Conveyance ratio.
2. One solution: Round overbanks
Figure 34: Rounding of overbank edges.
New model will also allow conveyance/ height descriptions of
cross-sections.
Numerical Problems with Very Wide, Flat Flood Plains
Figure 35: Modeling dead storage areas.
Time Step Selection
t
T
m
p

Figure 36: Time step selection is important to catch the peak value.

t c
zT
D
z
e
D e
p

|
.

`
,

011
1
2 2
0
2
2 2 2
1
2
.
( )
Where:
D
o
= Initial Hydraulic Depth
e = 1 - error
= Weight factor; 0.5 1
C = KV
K =
5
3
2
3 1

+
m
m
; 1.2 K 1.67
V =
Q
A
Distance Step Selection
x c t
c = 0.68C
Parameter Selection
1. Area (A)
2. Manning n
Cross-section Area of Channel-Valley
Errors due to:
1. Field measurements
2. Sampling interval
3. Linear variation of contour interval of topographic maps
Figure 37: Approximating cross-section top widths.
A
A
m
h
h
h
h
A
A
e
p
m
e e
m
+
|
.

`
,

|
.

`
,

+
+
( )
( )
1
1
5
3 5

Figure 38: Error in flood depth caused by error in cross-sectional area for various shaped sections
having steady flow.
Estimation of Manning n: Steep Gradient Streams
S
m
> 10 ft/ mi S > .002 ft/ ft
n
S
R
0 4
0 4
0 16
.
.
.
Composite n:
Figure 39: Diagram of composite n value.
n
n P n P n P n P
P P P P

+ + +
+ + +
|
.

`
,

1
2
1 2
2
2 3
2
3 4
2
4
1 2 3 4
1
2
Off-Channel Storage at a Point
Figure 40: Dead storage areas.
Use triangular distribution between 1 and 3.
Figure 41: Triangular distribution for off-channel storage.
SA
BSS
L
BSS
SA
L

2
2
Say l = 1/ 2 mi = 2640 ft
If SA = 456,000 ft
2
@elevation 52, then BSS =
( ) 2 456000
2640
= 345 ft.
If SA = 102,000 ft2 @elevation 45, then BSS =
( ) 2 102000
2640
= 77 ft.
Complicated Off-Channel Storage
Figure 42: River confluence can cause dead storage areas.
Figure 43: Triangular distribution for complicated off-channel storage.
OK as long as t gD L
T
, that is, disturbance propagates upstream in 1
time step.