Malpasset dam failure, 1959
Does a model reproduce a real dam-break disaster?
Hervouet (1999)
Version 0.1.0
- Right answer
- Laboratory or field measurements · Hervouet (1999)
- Results
- No model run yet · see them ↓
- Must
- match surveyed high-water marks within 15 %
What happens
The Malpasset arch dam in France failed in 1959. The flood was reconstructed from high-water marks and power-line failure times.
Why it matters
Real dam-break studies must be checked against real events, not just exact solutions.
A good model must
- match surveyed high-water marks within 15 %
- time the flood's arrival within 2 minutes
How models did
No model has been scored on this test yet.
Status of this test
Draft. To become candidate it needs: data licence verified; all inputs available; reference (truth) available.
Technical details for reviewers Checks, reference, inputs, sources
What this test still needs
- inputs/terrain.tif: CADAM/EDF Malpasset topography; redistribution terms not confirmed. Source: EDF R&D / CADAM partners; USACE LifeSim derivative
- Reference data: pending license.
Checks and why each limit was chosen
| Check | Difference measured as a percentage of | Latest | Difference | Why this check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hwm L2 of h · in the score | already a percentage | – | High-water mark elevations within 15% / stated survey uncertainty. | |
| arrival arrival_time_error of h · timing, beside the score | not a percentage: reported in seconds | – | Arrival at key valley gauges within 2 minutes of reconstruction. |
Reference
Measured data at reference/high_water_marks.csv; availability: pending license.
Promotion checklist
Only frozen tests have fixed inputs and answers. This list is computed from the manifest and the published score cards; the rules are in the method.
- ✗Data licence verifiedfor candidatelicence not yet confirmed by the rights holder
- ✗All inputs availablefor candidatepending: inputs/terrain.tif
- ✗Reference (truth) availablefor candidatemeasured data not yet obtained (pending license)
- ✓Every tolerance justifiedfor candidateeach gating criterion has a rationale
- ✗A published run passesfor frozenno passing score card published yet
- ✓Order of accuracy shownfor frozennot a verification case
- ✗Two independent codes passfor frozenpassing codes: none — needs a second, independently written solver or engine
- ✗Maintainer review recordedfor frozenno maintainer review recorded
Inputs
| File | Role | Format | SHA-256 | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
inputs/terrain.tif | terrain | tif | pending CADAM/EDF Malpasset topography; redistribution terms not confirmed. |
About this test
Physics
Field-scale dam-break inundation following the 1959 Malpasset failure. Validates 2D shallow-water models against surveyed high-water marks.
Citation
Hervouet, J.-M., and Petitjean, A. (1999). "Malpasset dam-break revisited with two-dimensional computations." J. Hydraul. Res., 37(6), 777–788. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221689909498511
Goutal, N. (1999). CADAM workshop test-case definition.
License
TBD-confirm — cannot promote past draft (see DATA_LICENSES.md).
Sources
- Hervouet, J.-M., Petitjean, A. (1999). Malpasset dam-break revisited with two-dimensional computations. doi:10.1080/00221689909498511
Test A2F-001_malpasset_1959 · version 0.1.0 · data licence TBD-confirm