An integrated modelling and experimental framework for flood risk assessment

Modern flood risk management relies on hydrodynamic models for risk assessment, design and evidence to guide future investment and planning. Accurate and reliable hydrodynamic modelling is essential for effective flood risk management in a wide range of applications to rivers, cities and civil infrastructure. The 2-D hydrodynamic models currently used in engineering practice lack the capability to accurately model linear features such as bridges, gates and weirs which act as obstructions or barriers to flow.

These features can heavily influence flow characteristics, flood risk and operation of infrastructure due to backwater effects, flooding due to reduced conveyance, deliberate flood storage and slowing, dangerous loading of structures and increased scour. There is a growing practical requirement for developing methods to represent these features explicitly in hydrodynamic models.

This PhD project combines physical scale modelling with numerical modelling to investigate fluid-structure interactions in channels. Physical modelling will be carried out in the Newcastle University Vedrana Kutija flume; state-of-the-art fully instrumented flume: glass side panels over full length with glass certified for use with Particle Image Velocimetry laser systems; model mounting capability with a glass viewing window in the base; sediment capture and measurement capability; electro-magnetic flow meter in the main delivery pipe; accurate depth and velocity measurement; and a flood dam release system generates a flood wave.

Numerical models have been developed to represent the effects of gates and bridges in a 2D modelling framework using novel Riemann solvers. These models will be enhanced and validated for a range of realistic structures and geometries, providing new tools that can be used to investigate and model flow and flood behaviour for a wide range of practical problems.

The capability for modelling 3D fluid-structure interaction in an essentially 2D hydrodynamic modelling framework is expected to have significant impact in practical engineering application.