Dam failure analysis according to different methods in HEC-RAS, Gökçe Dam, Turkey

Abstract

As in the rest of the world, the impact of climate change is clearly felt in Turkey, while the effects of global warming, drought and flood-induced disasters continue to increase day by day. At the same time, water consumption is crucial for the survival of people. Efficient water use and conservation, facilitated by water resources management, should be recognized as a pressing contemporary concern. Recently, floods that cause a great deal of damage have started to occur frequently in Turkey. A possible flood that may occur in the demolition of Gökçe Dam has been a matter of curiosity. This dam is the most important water source for Yalova province and has been in service for a long time. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the flood risk situations of settlements in case of a possible Gökçe Dam failure or basin flooding. Additionally, the study aims to estimate the damages that may occur in houses of flooded areas. Piping and overtopping methods were used in HEC-RAS program to create flood maps, and the Van Eck and Kok damage curves were used to assess the damages. While water level varies between 0-1 meters in the most affected buildings in the overtopping method, this level is 2-3 meters in the piping method. The damage to buildings with a water level of 4 meters and above is quite high in the piping method, and it has been observed that greater damage may occur for lower water levels in the overtopping method. The total damage and number of affected buildings are higher in the piping method. Accordingly, a possible Gökçe dam failure would cause significant losses in both methods, especially in the piping method.