WINDAM – Analysis of Overtopped Earth Embankment Dams

Windows Dam Analysis Modules (WINDAM) is a modular software application which is being developed for the analysis of overtopped earth embankments. The development is being carried out in stages with the initial computational model addressing the routing of the flood through the reservoir with dam overtopping and evaluation of the potential for vegetation or riprap to delay or prevent failure of the embankment. That model, WINDAMa, is in alpha testing with availability of a beta test version expected in the fall of 2006. Work has begun on expanding the model, WINDAMb, to include erosional failure of a homogeneous embankment through drainage of stored water. The approach taken in developing this failure model has been to first develop a research oriented model for use in analyzing data from embankment breach tests conducted in the United States and Europe. This SIMplified Breach Analysis (SIMBA) model is designed to allow application of different computational procedures to data analysis for the purpose of increasing understanding of the process and determining the approach best suited to field application in the WINDAM model. Analysis of the available data with SIMBA is continuing with simultaneous development of the structure of the WINDAM program to allow incorporation of the computational routines found to best represent the data. Later expansion of the models to include analysis of non-homogeneous embankments is anticipated.