In this study different characteristics of the dam-break flood waves are investigated experimentally. New velocity and depth measuring techniques are developed utilizing hot-film anemometry and pressure transducers. These techniques are applied to check the basic assumptions of the shallow wave theory and the previous experimental studies, and also to obtain new information pertaining to flow characteristics in the case of sinuous downstream river basins. To simulate more realistic, natural conditions some of the experiments were carried out for the first time on movable beds in the presence of sediment motion. The results of these experiments are presented and comparisons with rigid bed cases are made whenever possible. Total dam failures are rare events; therefore the more common partial failure events are included in the study. However, due to the limited scope of the study only a few breach patterns could be examined.;The velocity profiles following total and partial width failures were measured for the first time for the sinuous as well as straight downstream channels. These measurements, coupled with water surface profile and channel cross-section measurements, were designed to test and calibrate two-dimensional mathematical models which are being developed by different researchers. The study covered a wide range of subjects including sudden releases of large quantities of sediment with dam-break events. The effects of releasing a sediment wedge on the resulting flow conditions and channel cross-sections were analyzed. Unfortunately some of the subjects could be fully treated. They are brought into attention with the hope that they will help to guide future experimental and analytical studies.
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