Fjóla Guðrún Sigtryggsdóttir
Embankment dams are vulnerable to excess through-flow as well as overtopping. In Norway embankment dams are usually earth-rockfill dam with erosion protection comprising placed riprap on the upstreaan and downstream slope and at the crest. The breaching mechanism of this embankment dam type has not been investigated to the fullest, and the current practice is to use breaching parameters that are derived without consideration of embankment dam type and material. The breaching parameters are required for estimating the flood resulting from dam breach, and thus ultimately influences consequence classification of the dam and consequent dam design requirements. Data from large-scale tests carried out in Norway around 2003 is available (see figure above) with important information on breaching behaviour of rockfill dams. This data has not been analysed to the fullest. Additionally, physical model tests are planned in relation to the project WP1.2 on Dam safety within the research center HydroCen.
The aim of this master project would be to investigate breaching parameters in the literature and compare to the large scale test data available. Investigation and analysis of the large scale data would be part of the tasks carried out.