Cheruthoni Dam Break Analysis

This study is aimed to evaluate the wave which forms when water from the Mullaperiyar hits the water column of the Idukki reservoir that could overtop the Cheruthoni Dam Kerala, India. This dam was constructed in the year 1976. It is important to examine the effect of water that rushes into it at the time of emergency. The present study includes the dam break flood analysis of the Mullaperiyar dam up to the Idukki reservoir. This project is an extension to it. Dam break failures are often caused by overtopping of the dam due to inadequate spillway capacity during large inflows into the reservoir from heavy rainfall-generated runoff. Dam failure may also be caused by seepage or piping through the dam or along internal conduits, earthquake and landslide generated waves in the reservoir. For a cascade of dams, the breaking of one dam may cause subsequent damage to other dams located downstream due to their overtopping. Partial or catastrophic failure of a dam leading to uncontrolled release of water cause severe damages to lives and properties of people situated downstream. The effect of such a flood disaster can be mitigated to a great extent, if the resultant magnitude of flood peak and its time of arrival at different locations downstream of the dam can be estimated, facilitate the planning of emergency action measures. The most suitable instruments for analysis and prediction of a dam break flood are mathematical hydrodynamic simulation models. These models can be used for prediction of dam breach flood hydrograph and its routing through downstream valley to obtain the time series of discharge and water level at different locations of the valley. The present study includes the dam break flood analysis of the Mullaperiyar dam up to the Idukki reservoir.