Catastrophic Collapse of Water Supply Reservoirs in Urban Areas

The paper presents a two-dimensional unsteady flow model based on the finite volume method combined with anapproximate Riemann solver to solve the governing equations on an unstructured triangular grid. A major feature of the model is that it isconservative, can deal with wetting and drying processes, resolve shocks and can handle complex geometry. The model is applied to acase study involving the collapse of a water supply reservoir. These reservoirs are generally located in elevated positions in residentialareas. Therefore, they represent a potential risk to life and property. The model is used to predict the progress of the flood ensuing fromthe collapse of a water supply reservoir. The model is efficient, capable of simulating flow over a dry bed, resolves shocks, simulatesflow around complex geometry and obstacles and includes the influence of steep bed slopes and friction.