Large Scale Laboratory Experiment: The Impact of the Hydraulic Characteristics of Flood Waves Caused by Gradual Levee Failure on Inundation Areas

As a levee failure and the consequent flooding cause significant financial losses sometimes human casualties, they have led to considerable concern among city officials. Therefore, researchers devoted effort investigating hydraulic characteristics of sudden transient flow in form propagated waves inundation areas during and/or dam failure. A large number studies, however, mostly focused on simple one-dimensional cases investigated numerically experimentally, thus, important characteristics, particularly near zone, not been adequately captured because three-dimensional complexities. Taking these complexities into consideration, this study conducts large-scale experiment examine wave propagation an open area caused by gradual From experimental observations, provides speed front suggests formula for maximum flood depth corresponding peak area. We expect findings provide engineers scientists with fundamental insights By contributing our theoretical understanding, measurements can also be used as validation tools future numerical simulation are likely contribute establishment emergency action plans that help officials cope inundation.