Gate-opening criterion for generating dam-break flow in non-rectangular wet bed channels

Abstract

A sudden dam failure is usually simulated by the rapid removal of a gate in laboratory tests and numerical simulations. The gate-opening time is often determined according to the Lauber and Hager instantaneous collapse criterion (referred to as Lauber-Hager criterion) established for a rectangular open channel with a dry bed. However, this criterion is not suitable for non-rectangular channels or initial wet-bed conditions. In this study, the effect of the gate-opening time on the wave evolution is investigated by using the large eddy simulation (LES) model. The instantaneous dam break, namely the dam break without a gate, is simulated for comparison. A gate-opening criterion for generating dam-break flow in non-rectangular wet bed channel is proposed in this study, which can be used as an extension of the Lauber-Hager criterion and provides a more comprehensive and reasonable estimate of the gate opening time.