Generation and Development of a Hydraulic Bore Due to the Breaking of a Dam (1)

Abstract

Experiments on the behaviour of the unsteady flow caused by the breaking of a dam were conducted to examine the applicability of the analytical methods to this problem and to find the transitional process of a hydraulic bore in connection with the ratios of initial upstream depth to the downstream one. The breaking of a dam was simulated by the rapid pull-up of a sluice gate installed in a uniform rectangular channel. As a result of the experiments, it was recognized that four kinds of wave patterns distinguished by the initial relative depth appeared. The characteristics of the hydraulic bore, such as wave profile, wave velocity, wave height and etc. were investigated synthetically. Finally, stability of the undular bore was discussed.