RESPONSE OF EARTH DAMS TO P AND SV WAVES USING COUPLED FE-BE FORMULATION

A study of the effects of dam–foundation interaction on the response of earth dams to obliquely incident P and SV waves is presented. Emphasis is placed on the effects of the foundation flexibility and the spatial variability of the ground motion. The study is based on a rigorous hybrid numerical formulation that combines the efficiency and versatility of the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the ability of Boundary Element Method (BEM) to account for the radiation conditions at the far field. The developed hybrid method is very powerful and can be used efficiently to obtain accurate solutions of problems of complex geometry, material heterogeneity and, for time-domain analyses, material nonlinearity. The 2-D frequency-domain formulation is used here to investigate the response of infinitely long earth dams to obliquely incident P and SV waves. By accounting rigorously for the energy radiated back into the half-space, the study demonstrates the dramatic effect of the flexibility of the foundation rock in reducing the overall response of the dam. The effects of the spatial variability of the ground motion for P and SV waves travelling across the width of the dam are also important, but somewhat less pronounced than those of the foundation flexibility.     

快速筑堤技术——鲎式轻质堤坝的结构和筑堤方法

针对软基堤坝稳定性差,容易沉陷滑移,土石方堆不上,工期长,无法快速施工等问题,提出了鲎式轻质堤坝结构和筑堤方法,又称"松垒筑堤法".它减轻了易沉陷部位的质量,均衡堤坝荷重,增强整体稳定性,提高强度,使堤坝与地基溶为一体,消除了堤坝的不均匀沉降;是一种在软弱地基上应用仿生结构的筑堤方法.     

Lacustrine transgressions in the late Cenozoic Ussuri-Khanka depression (Primor’e)

In the Ussuri-Khanka depression of Primorye, the Quaternary alluvial-lacustrine and lacustrine sedimentogenesis progressed under conditions of transgressive accumulation in response to the depression tectonic subsidence and recurrent climatic fluctuations. The alluvial dams and irregular accumulation are proved to have been the leading factors of lakes’ formation within the depression. As is shown, fluctuations of the water level in limnic reservoirs depended on the climatic changes. New data considered in this work confirm the lacustrine genesis of a greater part of the Middle Pleistocene-Holocene sedimentary succession in the Khanka depression. Two transgressive phases, when the water level in the lakes rose by 1.5–2.0 m above the present one, are established for the Subboreal. The general conclusion is that the mesorhythmic structure of the sedimentary succession in the Ussuri-Khanka depression reflects the influence of climatic fluctuations in the Late Cenozoic.     

Flood hydrograph attenuation induced by a reservoir system: analysis with a distributed rainfall‐runoff model

Spatially distributed hydrologic models can be effectively utilized for flood event simulation over basins where a complex system of reservoirs affecting the natural flow regime is present. Flood peak attenuation through mountain reservoirs can, in fact, mitigate the impact of major floods in flood‐prone areas of the lower river valley. Assessment of this effect for a complex reservoir system is performed with a spatially distributed hydrologic model where the surface runoff formation and the hydraulic routing through each reservoir and the river system are performed at a fine spatial and time resolution. The Toce River basin is presented as a case study, because of the presence of 14 active hydroelectric dams that affect the natural flow regime. A recent extreme flood event is simulated using a multi‐realization kriging method for modelling the spatial distribution of rainfall. A sensitivity analysis of the key elements of the distributed hydrologic model is also performed. The flood hydrograph attenuation is assessed. Several possible reservoir storage conditions are used to characterize the initial condition of each reservoir. The results demonstrate how a distributed hydrologic model can contribute to defining strategies for reservoir management in flood mitigation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improvement of SWAT2000 modelling to assess the impact of dams and sluices on streamflow in the Huai River basin of China

Hydrological simulation and assessment in a dam–sluice regulated river basin are a complex and challenging issue. In this article, an improved SWAT2000 modelling system was developed that incorporated the Shuffled complex evolution (SCE‐UA) optimization algorithm and the multi‐site and multi‐objective calibration strategy. The implication of multi‐objective is different for different types of outlets, i.e. streamflow for an ordinary outlet, inflow for a sluice, and water storage for a reservoir. Model parameters were redefined to improve model simulations. The surface runoff lag time (SURLAG) was extended as a spatially distributed parameter, and a correction coefficient was introduced to modify the saturated hydraulic conductivity. The modelling system was then applied to the Huai River basin of China under various climatic conditions, including a very dry year (1999), a dry year (1981), an average year (1971), and wet year (1991). In all, 26 dams and 35 sluices were considered, among which about 20 dams/sluices were used for model calibration. The impact assessment primarily focused on the very dry year (1999). The results indicated that the released water from large reservoirs was blocked in the river channels by sluices located downstream. In the very dry year, the dam–sluice operations could result in an increase of the runoff volume during the non‐flood season and a decrease in runoff during the flood season, but the changing magnitude during the non‐flood season was much greater. An important conclusion of this case study is that the sluices in the Sha‐Yin branch located in the north region and the dams in the southern mountainous region above the Wangjiaba Hydrological Station have played the most significant role in regulating the streamflow of the entire river basin. The methods addressed in this article can simulate hydrological regime in the river basins regulated by dams and sluices under different climatic conditions at the whole‐watershed scale. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in hydrology and sediment delivery of the Mekong River in the last 50 years: connection to damming,monsoon, and ENSO

As the population and economy boom, more and more dams are being built in the Mekong River basin. Previous studies have revealed that Manwan Dam had little influence on the runoff–SSC (suspended sediment concentration) relationship, and the sediment load was relatively stable over the past 40 years. However, little is known at present on the relationship among monsoons, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), precipitation, runoff, and the impact of dams on the delta dynamics. A comprehensive hydropower GIS database covering the entire Mekong basin is presented in this study. Mann–Kendall trend analysis showed no significant change in precipitation and runoff over the past 50 years. Spectral analysis showed that the runoffs of the middle to lower reach of Mekong River are correlated with the Indian Monsoon, where as the East Asian Monsoon's influence is mainly on the lower reach. With another 200 new dams to be added to the basin in the next couple of decades, changes are expected in both hydrological regime and delta dynamics. On one hand, the runoff showed a closer connection with the regional precipitation and ENSO in the post‐dam period (1993–2005) than in the pre‐dam period (1950–1993). Such a relationship is expected to be even closer when more dams are completed. On the other hand, both daily maximum and minimum water levels on the delta plain have shown an abrupt drop since the end of 1994. This reduced water‐level gradient between the river and sea inevitably weakens the sediment discharge to the coast, which might intensify the ongoing coastal erosion on the eastern part of the delta plain. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Overview of the seismic input at dam sites in China

The current Chinese national standard, the Standard for Seismic Design of Hydraulic Structures (GB51247), released in 2018, is strictly based on China’s national conditions and dam engineering features. A comprehensive and systematic overview of the basis of the seismic fortification requirements, the framework of the fortification criteria, and the mechanisms of seismic input related to the seismic design of dams are presented herein. We first analyzed and clarified several conceptual aspects in traditional seismic design of dams. Then, for the seismic input at the dam site described in the first national standard for hydraulic structures, we expounded innovative concepts, ideas, and methods to make relevant provisions more realistic and practical and discussed whether reservoir earthquakes must be included in the seismic fortification framework of dams. This study seeks to incorporate seismic input at the dam site into traditional seismic design practice to promote its improvement from the quasi-static method to the dynamic method and from the closed vibration system to an open wave propagation system, to ensure that the seismic design of dams becomes more reasonable, reliable, scientific, and economic.     

On the use of pore pressure measurements in safety reassessments of concrete dams founded on rock

In probabilistic stability analyses of concrete dams founded on rock, the uplift pressure is often a parameter of major importance. In previous literature, it has been suggested that assessing uplift with pore pressure measurements, instead of using empirical assumptions, could improve the calculated dam safety. This paper presents a coherent methodology to investigate whether incorporating pore pressure measurements has any impact on the calculated dam safety, based on Bayesian linear regression of pore pressure data in combination with series-system and the first-order reliability method. The study concludes that the probability of sliding failure is closely related to the probability of an extreme increase in uplift. Hence, measured uplift should only be incorporated while this probability remains sufficiently small, which requires proper programs both for uplift monitoring and for maintenance of drains and grout curtains.     

闸坝的水文水环境效应及其量化方法探讨

如何正确处理流域开发与生态环境保护的关系,客观评价闸坝对生态环境的影响,是我国流域管理中亟待解决的科学问题之一。本文从河流的自然特性入手,剖析了闸坝修建和调控引起的水文水环境效应,探讨了闸坝对河流水量水质影响评价的理论基础、关键内容和技术手段等,提出了基于流域水循环过程认识和模拟的闸坝效应量化体系和分析方法;并以我国水利工程最密集、污染最严重的淮河流域为例,初步探索了流域闸坝的水文水环境效应。研究可为多闸坝调控流域水资源开发利用和水污染治理提供理论支持,为实现流域综合管理及社会经济可持续发展作出贡献。     

Effects of small ponds on stream water quality and macroinvertebrate communities

Six small constructed ponds (surface area 500–7500 m², catchment area 28–158 ha) in rural and native forest catchments in the Auckland region had poorer water quality than the streams they replaced. Temperature (24°C) and dissolved oxygen (DO) (4 mg/litre) criteria were exceeded for up to 46% and 84% of days, respectively, during a critical 40‐day summer period. The poor conditions found in ponds, even within undeveloped native forest catchments, indicated that the physical characteristics of ponds (e.g., lack of shade, organic sediments) affected water quality independently of other factors (e.g., land use, riparian protection). The frequency and severity of the exceedences were related to pond size, retention time, and catchment land use; the most degraded conditions were found in rural ponds with largest surface areas and longest retention times. Ponds affected water quality and macroinvertebrate communities downstream. Exceedences of temperature and DO criteria occurred more frequently and were more severe downstream than upstream of ponds. Ponds in rural catchments increased mean daily stream temperatures 3.1–6.6°C during the critical summer period, and temperature differences were three times higher than those in bush catchments (0.8–2.0°C). Elevated temperatures were observed for hundreds of metres downstream owing to the slow rate of cooling (1°C/ 100 m), expanding the extent of adverse effects well beyond the “footprint” of the pond. Macroinvertebrate community composition (sample area 1–3 m²) and values of four commonly used metrics appeared to be significantly affected by ponds in rural and native forest catchments. These finding have important management implications that should lead to modifications (e.g., breaching dams) of the estimated 4500 existing ponds in the Auckland region, where possible, and restrictions on proposals for new “on‐line” ponds.