Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2010KY149B

Flood impact due to dam failure: an assessment of current studies and the appropriateness of the methodologies applied to the Dix Dam

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2010-03-01 End Date: 2011-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $4,500 Total Non-Federal Funds: $9,116

Principal Investigators: Scott Yost

Project Summary: The project will investigate the applicability, limitations, assumptions, and required information needed for dam failure simulations. The project is oriented towards determining whether or not a 1-dimensional simulation can provide adequate accuracy or if a 2-dimensional model is needed to provide more reliable results. Analyses using 1-dimensional HEC-RAS will be assessed and compared with analyses completed utilizing a state of the art 2-dimensional simulation model (BreZo 4.0). This study will focus on modeling potential downstream flooding impacts along the Kentucky River if the Dix Dam was to fail.