Computer modeling of small mobile dams for urban channel application
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26848/rbgf.v18.1.p741-755Keywords:
HEC-RAS; Drag force; Friction instabilityAbstract
The increasing need for maintenance and cleaning of urban channels in Recife, along with the complexity and high demand for manual and mechanical services, motivated the development of the "mobile dam," a hydraulic structure that uses a translational wave to clean urban watercourses. This study aims to evaluate the behavior of the wave generated by a small mobile dam, providing a tool that can support efficient management of urban watercourses. The methodology included laboratory experiments with a mobile dam in a concrete channel, monitoring the temporal variation of wave levels. These data were used to calibrate a computational model in the HEC-RAS software, which simulates the wave behavior using shallow water equations. The results showed that the depths ranged from 0.113 m to 0.555 m, with velocities between 1.620 m/s and 1.860 m/s, indicating potential for sediment removal and friction instability in blocks weighing up to 22.5 kg. It is concluded that the mobile dam is effective for cleaning urban channels, although attention is needed for potential erosion risks in channels with non-cohesive materials. The computational modeling proved to be an accurate tool for studying hydrodynamic behavior, providing technical support for urban water management.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Jaime Joaquim da Silva Pereira Cabral, Yuri Tomaz Neves, Arivânia Bandeira Rodrigues, José Almir Cirilo

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