One of the works carried out by Intertechne is the study of dam safety through hydrodynamic modeling, that analyses the hypothetic rupture on tridimensional levels (3D software) and bidimensional (HEC-RAS software). “The hydrodynamic modeling is a important tool used for forecasting different studies, through which we can simulate different changes in different hydrodynamic processes”, explains the Director of Water and Energy at Intertechne, Marcelo Luiz Noriller, adding that dams Forquilha III; UHE Jupiá; UHE Tucuruí; Barragem Pau Ferro; UHE São Domingos; UHE Mascarenhas; Barragem Cerro Azul; UHE Ilha Solteira; were some of the projects in which we applied hydrodynamic modeling
The work begins with choosing the approach (one-dimensional, two-dimensional or three-dimensional) that will be using in modeling, according to the project particularity (available time and computational resource, data made available, complexity of the phenomenon to be studied, extension of the modeling, among others).
Next, it is necessary to define a computational mesh, to represent the flow. “The computacional models use the meshes with structured or unstructured cells, and in each cell the Navier-Stokes equations (which describe the fluid flow), conservation of mass (continuity) and monumentum are solved”, details Noriller.
After simulating processing, the results are post-processed and represented in the form of maps, graphs and tables of variables, such as speed, water level, flood level, flow depth, pressure, shear stress, among others. “It is important to ressalt that the use of this tool make possible the analysis of complex and dynamic systems with greater agility, and would often be impractical from a theorical or experimental point of view”, adds the Water and Energy Unit analyst, Jennifer Pereira da Cruz.
The main steps involved in a dam failure study are:
- Collection of damage and information: Topobarimetric survey of the study region.
- Hydrological and hydraulic modeling.
- Risk and impact analys.
- Development of rupture scenarios: extreme hidraulic operation scenario and most likely rupture scenario
- Vulnerability assessment: characterization of the downstream valley, flood map and characterization of the self-rescue zone (ZAS).
- Emergency Plan: creation of evacuation plans, communication and response to protect people and minimize harm.
