Two-dimensional vertical analysis of dam-break flow

The paper concerns mathematical modeling of free surface open-channel water flow. Two-dimensional vertical Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations were used to simulate the flow. They were solved with the SIMPLE algorithm of the finite difference method using the Marker and Cell technique to trace free surface movement. The dam-break flow (water column collapse) problem on a horizontal and frictionless bottom was investigated as a test case. The mechanics of dam-break flow for wet and dry bed conditions was analyzed on the basis of numerical simulations. The obtained results are shown for varying head of water in the downstream channel. The possibility of using the shallow-water equations and the RANS model to simulate rapidly varied flows is discussed.