Methodology to evaluate cascade dams breaks for analysis and safety design

Metodologia para avaliação de rupturas hipotéticas de barragens em cascata para análise e segurança de projeto

ABSTRACT

Among the main issues that may arise when evaluating studies of cascade dam ruptures, perhaps the most important, is to determine if the downstream dam can start into a cascade rupture, considering the hypothesis of the preliminary rupture of the upstream dam. This paper proposes a methodology to determine if a pair or a group of dams can fail in a cascade, suggesting a safe distance between them to avoid this effect. Additionally, this paper proposes a reunion with other researchers' methodologies in a step-by-step sequence, identifying when a cascade dam break is likely and should be included in the hypothetical dam break studies.

Keywords:
Cascade dam break methodology; Breach equation; Breach formation time; Numerical model