Three-Dimensional Modelling of Dam Breaching Using Flow-3D due to Spatial Overtopping Failure

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)

Room: Room 2

Author(s)

Alireza Mashreghi (he/him/his)

Graduate Research Assistant
University of South Carolina, South Carolina, United States

Co-Author(s)

Ezzat Elalfy

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of South Carolina, United States
Erfan Goharian (he/him/his)

Water Resources Engineering R&D Manager
University of California, San Diego, California, United States
M. Hanif Chaudhry

Associate Dean, International Programs
University of South Carolina, South Carolina, United States

Abstract Submission: Effective flood management requires accurate modeling of the breaching process to mitigate significant risks to downstream communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. In this study, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model, FLOW-3D Hydro, is utilized to simulate the breaching process resulting from spatial overtopping failure. The model is calibrated by comparing the simulated instantaneous breach dimensions with those measured in a dam-breach experiment, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of the numerical approach. The breach was initiated in the middle of the dam crest, where the interaction between fluid dynamics and sediment erosion is meticulously captured. A comparison is made between the main breaching characteristics of the three-dimensional model and the experimental setup, highlighting the model’s ability to replicate the complex physics involved in dam failures. These results contribute to a better understanding of dam breach dynamics and provide essential insights for future flood management strategies.

Learning Objectives/Expected Outcome (Optional) :