3D numerical analysis of a dam - break using VOF method and LES turbulence model

In this paper, three-dimensional numerical analysis of dam-break flow pattern in a laboratory-scale is reported. The simulation was performed using the open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver based on finite volume method (FVM) – OpenFOAM. Turbulence is treated using large eddy simulation (LES) approach. The free surface is tracked using the Volume of Fluid method (VOF). The numerical results are assessed against published experimental data. Water depth and pressure measures are used to validate the numerical model. The results demonstrate that the 3D numerical configuration satisfactorily reproduces the temporal variation of these variables with correct trends and high correlation with the experimental values