Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Dam Break Flow Using Weighted Average Flux Scheme

Dam break wave is a phenomenon resulting from sudden release of water in a channel. Aiming at a numerical study on such waves, this paper presents a finite volume model based on shallow water equations which utilizes the Weighted Average Flux (WAF) scheme to estimate inter-cell numerical fluxes. The model has a shock capturing feature, and requires no special treatment to handle waves propagating over dry beds. Different stages of wave propagation were analyzed by offering free surface profiles for the cases studied. Furthermore, several computational tests, including comparison with the existing analytical solution as well as experimental data, are provided to confirm the performance of the model in simulating unsteady flow due to the dam break.