MODEL OF DAM-BREAK FLOODS FOR CHANNELS OF ARBITRARY CROSS-SECTION

To obtain the relationship between the hydraulic characteristics and the breach shape, a new method is developed for calculation of the hydraulic characteristics of dam-break waves in an arbitrary channel. whose perimeter can be described by a number of line segments. By a mathematical transformation, the shape parameters of a breach cross section are separated from the integral equation and become a coefficient that can be calculated. The original integral equation of dam-break flood is transformed into a model equation. This model equation can be treated as a pure mathematical problem. By this model, the hydraulic characteristics of the dam-break waves with complicated outlet shape can be calculated directly and the accuracy of the method is the same as that of Ritter's solution of a rectangular cross section. In addition to the solving process for an arbitrary section, an example of a complex cross section and the data for a trapezoidal cross section are presented.