Evaluation of Parametric Breach Models from Prototype and Historical Embankment Dams under Overtopping Conditions
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
The primary cause of embankment dam failure is the overtopping of the crest, making dam safety a crucial consideration due to the potential for catastrophic consequences. Dam safety regulations and guidelines are increasingly demanding the enhancement of rockfill dams’ resistance to overtopping and leakages. Assessing the breaching of embankments is essential for conducting risk evaluations and hazard studies. Typically, this assessment is carried out using parametric breach models, which are statistically derived equations based on historical dam failure cases. However, these models often overlook important parameters such as material properties, leading to uncertainties in the results. This research focuses on quantifying the accuracy of breach parameters (breach width, failure time, peak outflow) predicted by various parametric breach models found in the literature. Three prototype embankment dams (homogeneous earthfill dam, homogeneous rockfill dam, and zoned rockfill dam), along with five historical failure cases, are considered to evaluate the predictive capability of the parametric breach models. The study compares the measured and estimated breaching parameter values, aiming to identify the most suitable parametric breach model based on the dam design. The results indicate that the performance of the different equations in estimating breach parameters significantly depends on the characteristics of the dam and reservoir. Additionally, a simplified physical model (DLBreach) is employed to estimate breach parameters for the three prototype dams, and a comparison with results from parametric breach models is presented. In conclusion, accurately predicting breach parameters is vital for improving dam safety. This research highlights the influence of dam and reservoir characteristics on the performance of different parametric breach models. By identifying the most suitable breach models for specific dam designs, this study contributes to the understanding and management of embankment dam failures.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Data from the IMPACT prototype dams used during the study were provided by Fornybar Norge (previously Energi Norge). Direct requests for these materials may be made to the provider.
Acknowledgments
The writing of this article is made possible with the financial support offered by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Hafslund E-CO Vannkraft, Hydro Energi, NEAS, SFE Produksjon, Sira-Kvina, Skagerak Kraft AS, Statkraft, Tafjord Kraftproduksjon, and Trønder Energi, all in Norway. The project number for this research is 90634900. We thank Styrmir Sigurjónsson for the research he carried out during his master thesis, focused on the breaching of embankment dams exposed to overtopping. We also thank Kjetil Vaskinn, doctor of engineering and consultant at Sweco, for providing additional details on the prototype dams from the IMPACT project.
References
Aldridge, B. N. 1987. US Geological Survey, written communication. Reston, VA: USGS.
Costa, J. E. 1985. “Floods from dam failures.” In US Geological Survey open-file report, 54. Reston, VA: USGS.
Courivaud, J. R. 2007. Analysis of the dam breaching database. Montréal: CEATI International, Dam Safety Interest Group.
Dezert, T., G. H. Kiplesund, and F. G. Sigtryggsdóttir. 2022. “Riprap protection exposed to overtopping phenomena: A review of laboratory experimental models.” Water 14 (17): 2722. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14172722.
EBL Kompetanse. 2006. Stability and breaching of embankment dams. Norway: Breaching of Embankment Dams.
Evans, S. G. 1986. “The maximum discharge of outburst floods caused by the breaching of man-made and natural dams.” Can. Geotech. J. 23 (3): 385–387. https://doi.org/10.1139/t86-053.
Froehlich, D. C. 1995a. “Embankment dam breach parameters revisited.” In Proc., 1st Int. Conf. on Water Resources Engineering, 887–891. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Froehlich, D. C. 1995b. “Peak outflow from breached embankment dam.” J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 121 (1): 90–97. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9496(1995)121:1(90).
Froehlich, D. C. 2008. “Embankment dam breach parameters and their uncertainties.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 134 (12): 1708–1721. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2008)134:12(1708).
Froehlich, D. C. 2016a. “Empirical model of embankment dam breaching.” In River flow 2016. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Froehlich, D. C. 2016b. “Predicting peak discharge from gradually breached embankment dam.” J. Hydrol. Eng. 21 (11): 04016041. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001424.
Fujia, T., and L. Yumei. 1994. “Reconstruction of Banqiao and Shimantan dams.” Int. J. Hydropower Dams 1 (4): 49–53.
Henan Water Resources Authority. 2005. The August 1975 catastrophic flood disaster in Henan. Zhenzhou, China: Yellow River Water Conservancy Press.
ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams). 1974. Lessons from dam incidents, complete Ed. Paris: ICOLD.
ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams). 1995. “Dam failures statistical analysis. Bulletin 99.” Accessed January 3, 2024. https://www.icold-cigb.org/GB/publications/bulletins.asp.
ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams). 2019. Incident database—Bulletin 99 update: Statistical analysis of dam failures. Paris: ICOLD.
Jansen, R. B. 1983. Dams and public safety. Washington, DC: US Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
Kiplesund, G. H., G. H. Ravindra, M. M. Rokstad, and F. G. Sigtryggsdóttir. 2021. “Effects of toe configuration on throughflow properties of rockfill dams.” J. Appl. Water Eng. Res. 9 (4): 277–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/23249676.2021.1884615.
Kiplesund, G. H., F. G. Sigtryggsdottir, and L. Lia. 2023. “Breach progression observation in rockfill dam models using photogrammetry.” Remote Sens. 15 (6): 1715. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15061715.
MacDonald, T. C., and J. Langridge-Monopolis. 1984. “Breaching characteristics of dam failures.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 110 (5): 567–586. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1984)110:5(567).
McEwen, K. 1991. Report on cougar creek dam failure. Edmonton, AB, Canada: Alberta Environment, Water Resources Management Services, Dam Safety Branch.
Morris, M. 2009. Breach initiation and growth: Physical processes. Oxfordshire, UK: Hydraulics Research Station.
Morris, M., M. Hassan, A. Kortenhaus, and P. Visser. 2009. “Breaching processes: A state of the art review.” Wallingford, UK: USDAFLOODsite.
Pierce, M. W. 2008. “Predicting peak outflow from breached embankment dams.” Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State Univ.
Qing, D. 1998. The river dragon has come!: The three gorges dam and the fate of China’s Yangtze River and its people. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe.
Singh, K. P., and A. Snorrason. 1982. Sensitivity of outflow peaks and flood stages to the selection of dam breach parameters and simulation models, state water survey (SWS) contract. Urbana, IL: Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, SWS Division, Surface Water at the Univ. of Illinois.
Singh, K. P., and A. Snorrason. 1984. “Sensitivity of outflow peaks and flood stages to the selection of dam breach parameters and simulation models.” J. Hydrol. 68 (1–4): 295–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(84)90217-8.
Soil Conservation Service. 1981. Simplified dam-breach routing procedure. Washington, DC: USDA.
US Bureau of Reclamation. 1982. Guidelines for defining inundated areas downstream from Bureau of Reclamation dams. Denver: US Bureau of Reclamation.
US Bureau of Reclamation. 1988. Downstream hazards classification guidelines. Denver, CO: US Bureau of Reclamation.
Vaskinn, K. A., A. Lovoll, and K. Höeg. 2004. Wp2.1 breach formation–Large scale embankment failure. Trondheim, Norway: Sweco.
Walder, J. S., and J. E. O’Connor. 1997. “Methods for predicting peak discharge of floods caused by failure of natural and constructed earthen dams.” Water Resour. Res. 33 (10): 2337–2348. https://doi.org/10.1029/97WR01616.
Wu, W. 2016. Introduction to dlbreach—A simplified physically-based dam/levee breach model. Potsdam, NY: Clarkson Univ.
Xu, Y., L. Zhang, and J. Jia. 2008. “Lessons from Catastrophic dam failures in August 1975 in Zhumadian, China.” In Geocongress 2008: Geosustainability and geohazard mitigation, edited by K. R. Reddy, M. V. Khire, and A. N. Alshawabkeh, 162–169. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Xu, Y., L. Zhang, and J. Jia. 2009. “Catastrophic failure of Banqiao dam.” In Proc., Case Studies: Learning from Dam Incidents and Failures, 24–25. Montréal: International Dam Safety Interest Group.
Xu, Y., and L. M. Zhang. 2009. “Breaching parameters for earth and rockfill dams.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 135 (12): 1957–1970. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000162.
Zhong, Q., W. Wu, S. Chen, and M. Wang. 2016. “Comparison of simplified physically based dam breach models.” Nat. Hazards 84 (Nov): 1385–1418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2492-9.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • April 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 19, 2023
Accepted: Nov 1, 2023
Published online: Jan 31, 2024
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jun 30, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Dam failures
- Dam safety
- Dams
- Disaster risk management
- Disasters and hazards
- Earthfill dams
- Embankment dams
- Engineering fundamentals
- Failure analysis
- Failures (by type)
- Fluid mechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydrologic engineering
- Man-made disasters
- Mathematics
- Parameters (statistics)
- Rockfill dams
- Statistics
- Water and water resources
- Wave overtopping
- Waves (fluid mechanics)
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.