Analysis of stability of earthen dams in kachchh region, Gujarat, India

The Kachchh region of Gujarat, India bore the brunt of a disastrous earthquake of magnitude M_w = 7.6 that occurred on January 26, 2001. The major cause of failure of various structures including earthen dams was noted to be the presence of liquefiable alluvium in the foundation soil. Results of back-analysis of failures of Chang, Tappar, Kaswati and Rudramata earth dams using pseudo-static limit equilibrium approach presented in this paper confirm that the presence of liquefiable layer contributed to lesser factors of safety leading to a base type of failure that was also observed in the field. Following the earthquake, earth dams have been rehabilitated by the concerned authority and it is imperative that the reconstructed sections of earth dams be reanalyzed. It is also increasingly realized that risk assessment of dams in view of the large-scale investment made and probabilistic analysis is necessary. In this study, it is demonstrated that the probabilistic approach when used in conjunction with deterministic approach helps in providing a rational solution for quantification of safety of the dam and in the estimation of risk associated with the dam construction.     

石板水电站重力坝坝基渗流渗压观测资料的统计回归分析

渗流、渗压是影响坝基稳定的重要因素。通过对石板水电站重力坝坝基渗流、渗压多年观测数据的统计分析,考虑水位、温度和时效的影响,采用逐步回归分析法建立了坝基渗流、渗压的统计回归分析模型。回归计算结果表明,渗流、渗压统计值与观测值吻合较好,统计复相关系数较大,估计标准误差较小。统计回归分析模型有效地反映了坝基渗流、渗压的变化规律和发展趋势,为评价大坝运行安全性态提供了有效地分析手段和途径。     

Hydromechanical Analysis of Masonry Gravity Dams and their Foundations

A numerical model for the hydromechanical analysis of masonry dams based on the discrete element method is presented. The dam and the rock foundation are represented as block assemblies, and a coupled flow-stress analysis is performed in an integrated manner for the entire system. Complex block shapes may be obtained by assembling elementary blocks into macroblocks, allowing the application of the model to situations ranging from equivalent continuum to fully discontinuum analysis. A contact formulation was developed based on an accurate edge–edge approach, incorporating mechanical and hydraulic behavior. The main numerical aspects are described, with an emphasis in the flow analysis explicit algorithm. An application to an existing masonry dam is presented, analyzing its present condition, with excessive seepage, and the proposed rehabilitation intervention. An evaluation of sliding failure mechanisms was also performed, showing the expected improvement in the safety of the structure.     

深厚覆盖层上高砾石土心墙堆石坝变形监测分析

在深厚覆盖层上建筑的高砾石土心墙堆石坝得到迅猛发展的同时,正确地认识坝体变形规律和合理地数值模拟是不可忽视的问题。堆石坝变形的影响因素多且复杂,监测成果的分析对研究上述问题具有重要意义。以硗碛大坝的监测资料为基础,结合坝体的填筑和蓄水过程,对位于深厚覆盖层上的百米级砾石土心墙堆石坝的变形规律进行了系统分析,并与其坝高、覆盖层深度、河谷宽度等方面都具有相似性的毛尔盖大坝监测资料进行了对比分析。通过分析两座大坝监测结果,对坝体的变形特性进行了规律性总结,对湿化和蠕变作用以及水库填筑和蓄水过程对坝体变形的影响有了一定认识。分析结论可为正确认识以及合理模拟和预测同类坝体的变形特性提供参考和依据。     

国际大坝工程研究动态——‘95马来西亚大坝工程国际学术会议简介

笔者通过对参与’９５大坝工程国际学术会议共１２６篇论文及加拿大大坝安全协会所作的“加拿大大坝安全指南”学术报告的分析和归纳，就目前国际大坝工程研究中的大坝安全规范及管理，水电工程开发与环境保护，大坝地基处理，大坝筑坝关键技术及新型筑坝材料等五个方面的动态作了简介。     

渗流作用下软基心墙坝稳定性分析

基于心墙坝的渗流特性建立了渗流分析模型和坝坡渗透稳定分析模型,并进一步考虑坝下软土地基的压缩特性提出了与当前应力状态有关的软土层渗流分析模型,将所建模型应用于某水利枢纽主土坝典型软基断面不同运行工况的计算,详细分析了心墙的防渗作用和软土层变形对渗透稳定的不良影响。     

Forecasting Daily Seepage Discharge of an Earth Dam Using Wavelet–Mutual Information–Gaussian Process Regression Approaches

Because of their sensitive structure, earth dams might face failure due to seepage phenomenon. In order to prevent such failure, some equipment like piezometers are installed in the body or foundation of earth dams. This study investigated the importance of piezometer installation level in dam body or foundation using mutual information–wavelet–Gaussian process regression. 27 Piezometers in three section along with reservoir level were employed to predict one-step-ahead seepage discharge of Zonouz earth dam. The daily data of 1 year of piezometer level and reservoir level were collected for this purpose. In order to find the best possible input combination, three groups of modeling scenarios were defined using piezometers and reservoir level time series. As some input combinations had more than two variables, decomposed time series were imposed into mutual information (MI) tool in order to decrement input variables and find the most correlated input–output features. Afterward, mentioned features were imposed into optimized Gaussian process regression (GPR) to be predicted. Different kernels were selected as core tool of GPR, but results demonstrated the capability of radial basis function (RBF) kernel. GPR–RBF structure were optimized using cross-validation technique. Results indicated that input combination including piezometer level and reservoir level of section II, especially piezometer 203 time series led to the best result among all scenarios.     

Permafrost warming under the earthen roadbed of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway

This paper investigates the stability of the earthen roadbed built in the warm and ice-rich permafrost region. The varying thermal regime of the subgrade and the ongoing settlement of the roadbed were observed at field. The temperature data demonstrate that in warm and ice-rich permafrost regions, adoption of earthen roadbed results in warming of the underlying permafrost. It is primarily because the earthen roadbed traps the warm-season absorbed heat in the natural ground. In addition, the carried heat of the earthen roadbed that was constructed in warm season propagates downward to warm the underlying soil. The warming permafrost layer promotes the roadbed settlement, which was mostly linearly developed in the past five service years. A comprehensive analysis for the varying thermal regime and the ongoing settlement shows that the unfrozen water liberated from the warming, undrained layer experiences consolidation. The deformation of the undrained soils is mainly responsible for settlement of the roadbed. In comparison, the temperature variation of this warming permafrost layer is found to be less beneath roadbeds protected by thermosyphons or crushed rock revetments. The installation of thermosyphons into the earthen roadbed is recommended to prevent the further degradation of the underlying permafrost.     

Evaluation of the overflow failure scenario and hydrograph of an embankment dam with a concrete upstream slope protection

The standard procedure in Quebec, Canada, for evaluating the failure of an embankment dam, per the Loi sur la sécurité des barrages, specifies a 30-min-long failure scenario with a breach width equal to four times the maximal height of the dam. We demonstrate a new method for evaluating the flood overtopping failure scenario for embankment dams with concrete upstream slope protection, using Toulnustouc dam for example computations. Our new methodology computes safety factors for a range of potential failure mechanisms taking into account geotechnical, hydraulic, and structural factors. We compile the results of our investigations of the various dam failure mechanisms and compare the corresponding dam failure hydrographs to the current hydrograph specified in the standard analysis procedures. Our investigations tend to invalidate the current standard procedures for evaluating the failure of rock-fill dams with concrete upstream faces, by indicating that the current standard procedures underestimate the peak failure discharge and overestimate the time to the peak discharge.     

Logistic regression model for predicting the failure probability of a landslide dam

Landslides may obstruct river flow and result in landslide dams; they occur in many regions of the world. The formation and disappearance of natural lakes involve a complex earth–surface process. According to the lessons learned from many historical cases, landslide dams usually break down rapidly soon after the formation of the lake. Regarding hazard mitigation, prompt evaluation of the stability of the landslide dam is crucial. Based on a Japanese dataset, this study utilized the logistic regression method and the jack-knife technique to identify the important geomorphic variables, including peak flow (or catchment area), dam height, width and length in sequence, affecting the stability of landslide dams. The resulting high overall prediction power demonstrates the robustness of the proposed logistic regression models. Accordingly, the failure probability of a landslide dam can also be evaluated based on this approach. Ten landslide dams (formed after the 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake, the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake and 2009 Typhoon Morakot) with complete dam geometry records were adopted as examples of evaluating the failure probability. The stable Tsao-Ling landslide dam, which was induced by the Chi-Chi earthquake, has a failure probability of 27.68% using a model incorporating the catchment area and dam geometry. On the contrary, the Tangjiashan landslide dam, which was artificially breached soon after its formation during the Wenchuan earthquake, has a failure probability as high as 99.54%. Typhoon Morakot induced the Siaolin landslide dam, which was breached within one hour after its formation and has a failure probability of 71.09%. Notably, the failure probability of the earthquake induced cases is reduced if the catchment area in the prediction model is replaced by the peak flow of the dammed stream for these cases. In contrast, the predicted failure probability of the heavy rainfall-induced case increases if the high flow rate of the dammed stream is incorporated into the prediction model. Consequently, it is suggested that the prediction model using the peak flow as causative factor should be used to evaluate the stability of a landslide dam if the peak flow is available. Together with an estimation of the impact of an outburst flood from a landslide-dammed lake, the failure probability of the landslide dam predicted by the proposed logistic regression model could be useful for evaluating the related risk.     

Breaching parameters of landslide dams

Landslide dams pose enormous risks to the public because of the potentially catastrophic floods generated by breaching of such dams. The need to better understand the threats of landslide dams raises questions about the proper estimation of breaching parameters (breach size, breaching duration, and peak outflow rate) of landslide dams and the feasibility of applying models for estimating the breaching parameters of man-made earthen dams to landslide dams. This paper aims to answer these two questions. In this study, a database of 1,239 landslide dams, including 257 cases formed during the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, has been compiled. Based on records of 52 landslide dam cases with breaching information in the database, empirical models for estimating the breaching parameters of landslide dams are developed. A comparison study between landslide dams and man-made earth and rockfill dams is conducted, which shows that the models for man-made earth and rockfill dams are not suitable for estimating the breaching parameters of landslide dams. Two case studies are presented to show the application of the set of empirical models developed in this paper.     

Rock Mass Behavior Under Hydropower Embankment Dams: A Two-Dimensional Numerical Study

Sweden has more than 190 large hydropower dams, of which about 50 are pure embankment dams and over 100 are concrete/embankment dams. This paper presents results from conceptual analyses of the response of typical Swedish rock mass to the construction of a hydropower embankment dam and its first stages of operation. The aim is to identify locations and magnitudes of displacements that are occurring in the rock foundation and grout curtain after construction of the dam, the first filling of its water reservoir, and after one seasonal variation of the water table. Coupled hydro-mechanical analysis was conducted using the two-dimensional distinct element program UDEC. Series of the simulations have been performed and the results show that the first filling of the reservoir and variation of water table induce largest magnitudes of displacement, with the greatest values obtained from the two models with high differential horizontal stresses and smallest spacing of sub-vertical fractures. These results may help identifying the condition of the dam foundation and contribute to the development of proper maintenance measures, which guarantee the safety and functionality of the dam. Additionally, newly developed dams may use these results for the estimation of the possible response of the rock foundation to the construction.     

EARTHQUAKE ANALYSIS OF GRAVITY DAMS BASED ON DAMAGE MECHANICS CONCEPT

In this paper, the seismic response analysis of concrete gravity dams is presented using the concept of Continuum Damage Mechanics. The analysis is performed using the finite element technique and a proper material degradation/damage model. The damage criterion used here is a second order tensor model based on elastic-brittle characterization and on a power function of the principal tensile stress. The methodology employed is shown to be computationally efficient and consistent in its treatment of both damage growth and propagation. Other important features considered in the analysis are: (1) dam–foundation interaction (2) appropriate modelling of joined rock mass using continuum damage mechanics, and (3) proper modelling of unbounded domain of foundation rock. The infinite media representation of the foundation material has been achieved by using doubly asymptotic approximation. The results of the analysis indicate that the seismic response of a damaged concrete dam could be significantly different from that of an undamaged one. In particular, the analysis shows that during a seismic event, the microstructure of a damaged zone can significantly change due to growth and propagation of microcracks.     

向家坝水电站左岸坝基挤压破碎带变形特性试验研究

坝基软弱破碎地质体是影响大坝安全的关键因素之一,其岩体力学参数的合理确定是大坝工程稳定分析与安全评价的基础。为合理确定向家坝水电工程左岸坝基挤压破碎带的变形模量,进行了室内MTS变形模量试验、现场小型承压板和大型承压板试验研究。3种试验方法得到的破碎带岩体变形模量基本都小于1.0 GPa,有盖层承压板试验条件下的破碎岩体变形模量测试值远大于无盖层岩体影响情况下的试验成果。研究成果表明,不同试验方法反映了左岸坝基破碎带岩体的不同受力状态,其变形模量也呈现一定差异性。在分析挤压破碎带变形模量试验值差异性的原因基础上,提出了左岸坝基破碎带岩体变形模量的建议值。     

基于蓄水期反演的锦屏一级拱坝极限承载力分析

锦屏一级拱坝坝高为305 m,是世界上最高的拱坝。但是,其坝基岩性较差,f5、f8等断层在建基面出露,基础严重不对称等地质复杂性给锦屏一级拱坝的极限承载力分析评价带来很多不确定性。基于变形加固理论,使用三维非线性有限元程序TFINE,采用直接法和正倒垂测点监测值反演蓄水期坝体混凝土弹性模量和基础变形模量,并验证反演参数在锦屏一级蓄水期预测和极限承载力分析中的适用性。使用反演参数,对坝体正常运行的应力、位移进行仿真分析;采用屈服区、不平衡力、塑性余能范数、整体稳定性安全系数等指标,基于工程类比法,全面评价锦屏一级拱坝的极限承载力。对比反演参数和设计参数的计算结果,验证了设计参数的可靠度。结果表明,锦屏一级拱坝起裂安全系数K1为2倍超载,极限承载安全系数K3为8倍超载,锦屏一级拱坝具有较高的极限承载力,整体稳定性是有保证的。     

Geologic problems related to dam sites in Jordan and their solutions

The geologic structures associated with several selected dam sites in Jordan and the tectonic effects on dam foundations and reservoir margins are reviewed. Rock defects, especially discontinuities represented by faults and closely spaced, open joints are investigated. Related problems, such as loss of water from the reservoir by seepage and leakage within the dam foundation are evaluated. The regional seismicity is analyzed and a design earthquake is established for each dam site.

Two major embankment dams are investigated, together with two large proposed dams and several small dams.

This paper discusses in some detail the regional setting and site-specific geology, and the occurrence, size and inclination of faults and joints at each dam site. Moreover, the effects of the faults on the operational performance of each dam are described and specific techniques are used or proposed for remediation are outlined.

The study shows that the combination of faults and joint features cause leakage problems at the operational dams in Jordan. Although, preventive measures such as grouting have been implemented, further leakage and/or seepage problems are anticipated and a monitoring system is needed to control and foresee such problems.

Jordan is an earthquake-prone region. Consequently, it is recommended that the design of embankment dams in the vicinity of the Dead Sea-Jordan Valley Rift should include such considerations as dynamic loading and associated hazards, including embankment acceleration zoning, foundation liquefaction risk and rockhead rupture. The magnitude of the design earthquake at each dam site can be estimated following the guidelines of ICOLD (1989), which are based on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis.     

余震作用下堰塞坝体破坏及溃决过程大型振动台试验研究

山区特大地震往往导致大量堰塞湖,例如2008年汶川地震形成了至少257个堰塞湖,并且主震后发生了大量余震,这些余震可能会影响堰塞坝体的安全状态。通过大型振动台模型试验,研究了余震及库水耦合作用下堰塞坝体的破坏及溃决机理和过程。共进行了两组不同材料的振动台模型试验,分别模拟含黏粒较多且颗粒较小（坝体Ⅰ）和基本不含黏粒且颗粒较大（坝体Ⅱ）的两种坝体。在不同水位条件下进行振动台试验。研究成果表明:（1）地震和库水耦合作用下堰塞坝体的主要溃决方式是漫顶溢流,主要溃决过程为地震力使松散的堰塞坝体发生沉陷,库水渗入使沉陷加剧,最终水位上升漫过坝顶发生溢流冲蚀破坏。（2）地震一般不会直接引起堰塞坝体的破坏。地震力对坝体稳定性的主要影响是使坝体发生沉陷变形。在地震和库水耦合作用下,坝体沉陷比单一因素作用下更为剧烈,因此地震作用会使漫顶溢流提前发生。（3）地震和库水耦合作用下坝体Ⅰ沉陷量大于坝体Ⅱ,说明现实中由大粒径岩土体组成的堰塞坝体具有更好的稳定性。     

重力坝应力-渗流相互作用的无单元耦合分析

应用两场交叉迭代解耦技术,建立了应力-渗流相互作用的无单元耦合分析计算模型。详细分析了东方红重力坝在不计应力-渗流耦合和考虑应力-渗流耦合两种情况下,正常蓄水时坝体的位移、应力和渗流位势分布的变化规律。分析表明,考虑耦合作用后,坝体的位移略小,但分布规律一致;坝体的水平正应力分布不同,垂直正应力变化较大,但分布规律一致;耦合作用条件下渗流对重力坝坝体应力的影响是不利的。计算成果符合一般规律。     

喜马拉雅山北坡冰碛湖坝温度特征及其对堤坝稳定的影响

堤坝稳定性是评价冰湖溃决危险性的重要指标, 而堤坝的温度特征与其稳定性密切相关. 基于2012年11月-2013年9月对西藏定结县龙巴萨巴湖冰碛坝的0~150 cm不同深度的温度观测数据, 分析冰碛坝地温变化特征及其影响. 结果显示: 冰碛坝表层(<20 cm)地温与气温变化一致, 温度日变化常出现白天为正温梯度而夜间为负温度梯度的特征, 全年日均梯度一般为负温梯度(上部温度高、下部温度低); 中层(20~100 cm)和深层(>100 cm)表现为冬季下层温度高于上层温度的正温梯度, 夏季下层温度低于上层的负温梯度逐渐加强, 但地温日变幅逐渐减弱; 中间层地温变化不到气温变化幅度的1/5~1/10; 深层地温无明显的日变化. 冰碛坝的消融率约为2.1 cm·d^-1, 夏季消融深度超过250 cm. 现有夏季消融深度对堤坝的稳定影响有限, 但是湖盆区如果持续升温, 冰碛坝冻土的年消融率和消融深度都将增大, 致使堤坝稳定性下降, 溃决风险增大.