The Taoussa project (Mali): an example of effective composite modeling

Physical modeling and numerical modeling are two efficient analysis approaches in hydraulic engineering. The interactive application of both methods is obviously the more effective response to most flow problems analyses. This paper presents the results of a successful application of such a composite numerical – physical study carried out by the Research Group Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering (former HACH) of the University of Liège on behalf of Coyne et Bellier (Tractebel Engineering). It concerned, at the stage of detailed draft, the hydraulic study of the Taoussa Project on the Niger River in Mali. The studies, performed in less than 6 months, focused on the flow characteristics at the scale of the reservoir and the river, using the numerical approach, as well as on hydrodynamic details in the spillway using a large scale factor physical model with boundary conditions defined on the basis of numerical modeling.