Numerical Simulation of a Two Dimensional Flood Wave Propagation Due to Dam Failure

The propagation of a flood wave on a two dimensional dry plain is investigated by the aid of a numerically solved mathematical model. The velocity components, the water depth and the position of the water front for each time step are computed through an explicit finite difference scheme in Eulerian space. The forcing function consists of the charge by a discharge hydrograph on a boundary point. A series of numerical experiments gives qualitative proofs of the model's validity which is finally tested for the case of unidirectional flow by comparison to laboratory experiments. The proposed model was applied on a Northern Greece plain for the study of its inundation due to the failure of an operating earth dam.