Author(s): Angelica Betancourth Arias; Marti Sanchez-Juny; Beniamino Russo; Eduardo Martinez-Gomariz

Linked Author(s): Martí Sánchez-Juny, Beniamino Russo

Keywords: Building flood ingress; Flow partition; Free-fall condition; Froude number; Shallow water equations; Experimental hydraulics; Urban flood modelling; IBER

Abstract: This study pursues two objectives: (i) to validate the IBER 2D hydrodynamic model for simulating floodwater ingress through a building doorway under free-fall conditions, and (ii) to establish predictive relationships between approach Froude number and flow partition q/qi for practical flood assessment. Using 36 laboratory runs covering discharges from 19 to 205 L/s and Froude numbers from 0.95 to 1.32, IBER with a topographic discontinuity representation of the doorway and no weir equation accurately reproduces water depth and Froude number. Two validated regression expressions, one for supercritical and one for subcritical conditions, enable direct estimation of building inflow from standard 2D flood model output, supporting building-scale damage assessment and evacuation planning.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/iahr.proc.hic2026.274

Year: 2026