Modeling of dam break wave propagation in a partially ice-covered channel

During the last four decades, several numerical formulations and specialized software have been developed in response to studies about dam break (DB) wave propagation and its hydraulic and environmental impacts on downstream hydraulic structures and valleys. These methods cannot, however, be used to predict wave propagation within partially covered channels or reservoirs located upstream of hydraulic structures. In fact, such problems require the modelling of the complex transition from a free surface flow into a pressurized one. Because rivers or channels partially covered with ice sheets are typical examples commonly met in winter in northern climates, it is vitally important to assess ice-cover effects on the DB wave propagation and develop appropriate tools to predict resulting hydrodynamic loads on hydraulic structures downstream. This paper proposes an original numerical formulation to model wave propagation and hydrodynamic pressure in partially covered channels. The proposed formulation uses one-dimensional St. Venant equations to simulate open-water flow and water hammer equations to simulate pressure flow within the partially covered channel. To illustrate the use of the hydrodynamic pressures obtained, a case study is presented where a channel cover and a dam located downstream are modelled using finite elements to investigate their dynamic structural response.