RISK ASSESSMENT OF DROWNING IN RECIRCULATON FLOW AT LOW-HEAD DAM BY USING A COUPLED HUMAN FLOW SIMULATION MODEL

Abstract

River structures such as headworks installed in channels are called low-head dams. They are known to cause water accidents frequently due to the circulating flow that occurs at the downstream neighboring the weirs. In this study, the risk of drowning due to the circulating flow at the low-head dam was investigated by using a simulation model that can simultaneously solve the flow and human movement. From a series of simulation with different hydraulic conditions, it was found that the circulating flow can occur at both the surface and the riverbed, that a victim can continue to float on the surface by wearing a life jacket even if he is trapped by the current while he can be trapped by the circular current for a long time.