Characteristics and interpretation of the seismic signal of a field-scale landslide dam failure experiment

Outburst floods caused by breaches of landslide dams may cause serious damages and loss of lives in downstream areas; for this reason the study of the dynamic of the process is of particular interest for hazard and risk assessment. In this paper we report a field-scale landslide dam failure experiment conducted in Nantou County, in the central of Taiwan.The seismic signal generated during the dam failure was monitored using a broadband seismometer and the signal was used to study the dam failure process.We used the short-time Fourier transform(STFT) to obtain the time–frequency characteristics of the signal and analyzed the correlation between the power spectrum density(PSD) of the signal and the water level. The results indicate that the seismic signal generated during the process consisted of three components: a low-frequency band(0–1.5 Hz), an intermediate-frequency band(1.5–10 Hz) and a highfrequency band(10–45 Hz). We obtained the characteristics of each frequency band and the variations of the signal in various stages of the landslide dam failure process. We determined the cause for the signal changes in each frequency band and its relationship with the dam failure process. The PSD sediment flux estimation model was used to interpret the causes of variations in the signal energy before the dam failure and the clockwise hysteresis during the failure. Our results show that the seismic signal reflects the physical characteristics of the landslide dam failure process. The method and equipment used in this study may be used to monitor landslide dams and providing early warnings for dam failures.

Numerical investigation of hydro-morphodynamic characteristics of a cascading failure of landslide dams

A cascading failure of landslide dams caused by strong earthquakes or torrential rains in mountainous river valleys can pose great threats to people’s lives,properties,and infrastructures.In this study,based on the three-dimensional Reynoldsaveraged Navier-Stokes equations(RANS),the renormalization group(RNG)k-εturbulence model,suspended and bed load transport equations,and the instability discriminant formula of dam breach side slope,and the explicit finite volume method(FVM),a detailed numerical simulation model for calculating the hydro-morphodynamic characteristics of cascading dam breach process has been developed.The developed numerical model can simulate the breach hydrograph and the dam breach morphology evolution during the cascading failure process of landslide dams.A model test of the breaches of two cascading landslide dams has been used as the validation case.The comparison of the calculated and measured results indicates that the breach hydrograph and the breach morphology evolution process of the upstream and downstream dams are generally consistent with each other,and the relative errors of the key breaching parameters,i.e.,the peak breach flow and the time to peak of each dam,are less than±5%.Further,the comparison of the breach hydrographs of the upstream and downstream dams shows that there is an amplification effect of the breach flood on the cascading landslide dam failures.Three key parameters,i.e.,the distance between the upstream and the downstream dams,the river channel slope,and the downstream dam height,have been used to study the flood amplification effect.The parameter sensitivity analyses show that the peak breach flow at the downstream dam decreases with increasing distance between the upstream and the downstream dams,and the downstream dam height.Further,the peak breach flow at the downstream dam first increases and then decreases with steepening of the river channel slope.When the flood caused by the upstream dam failure flows to the downstream dam,it can produce a surge wave that overtops and erodes the dam crest,resulting in a lowering of the dam crest elevation.This has an impact on the failure occurrence time and the peak breach flow of the downstream dam.The influence of the surge wave on the downstream dam failure process is related to the volume of water that overtops the dam crest and the erosion characteristics of dam material.Moreover,the cascading failure case of the Xiaogangjian and Lower Xiaogangjian landslide dams has also been used as the representative case for validating the model.In comparisons of the calculated and measured breach hydrographs and final breach morphologies,the relative errors of the key dam breaching parameters are all within±10%,which verify the rationality of the model is applicable to real-world cases.Overall,the numerical model developed in this study can provide important technical support for the risk assessment and emergency treatment of failures of cascading landslide dams.

F-N curved surface method for establishing the integrated risk criteria of dam failure

It is of great importance to establish the dam failure risk criteria for dam risk assessment and management. Presently, the F-N curve method is widely applied in practice, in which the F-N curves are used for establishing the criteria for separate risks caused by the dam failure in life, economy, environment, and society respectively. In this paper, in consideration of the overlying effect by two or more types of risk losses resulting from the dam failure at the same time, the F-N curved surface method is presented for establishing the integrated dam failure risk criteria. In this method, the named F-N curved surfaces are established, and by these curved surfaces, the acceptable, the allowable, and the unallowable integrated risk zones can be defined.

Distribution, failure risk and reinforcement necessity of check-dams on the Loess Plateau: a review

Check-dams are the most important measure to control the soil and water loss in highly erodible catchments on the Chinese Loess Plateau.Based on the data of check-dams from 1950 to 2014,our study roundly analyzed the regional distribution,function and the problems of check-dams on the Loess Plateau.A total of 17,094 check-dams with a storage capacity of over 100,000 m^(3) and an average density of 0.027 counts km^(-2) were installed on the Loess Plateau.Check-dams’densities varied greatly in the Qinghai Province,Gansu Province,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,Shaanxi Province,Shanxi Province and Henan Province.The highest density of check-dams reached 0.088 counts km^(-2) in Shaanxi Province,whereas the lowest density of check-dams was only 0.005 counts km^(-2) in Qinghai Province.However,after decades of operation,3025 large check-dams and 2257 medium check dams are dangerous and have security risks,which are seriously threatening downstream safety.The dangerous rate of checkdams is high.Specifically,the check-dams in Shanxi and Qinghai Province have the highest dangerous rates,with both exceeding 53%.Therefore,there is an urgent need for carrying out reinforcement of the dangerous check-dams.The results are helpful to policymakers to extend and develop check-dams.

Drones,virtual reality,and modeling:communicating catastrophic dam failure

Dam failures occur worldwide and can be economically and ecologically devastating.Communicating the scale of these risks to the general public and decision-makers is imperative.Two-dimensional(2D)dam failure hydraulic models inform owners and floodplain managers of flood regimes but have limitations when shared with non-specialists.This study addresses these limitations by constructing a 3D Virtual Reality(VR)environment to display the 1976 Teton Dam disaster case study using a pipeline composed of(1)2D hydraulic model data(extrapolated into 3D),(2)a 3D reconstructed dam,and(3)a terrain model processed from UAS(Uncrewed Airborne System)imagery using Structure from Motion photogrammetry.This study validates the VR environment pipeline on the Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset with the criteria:immersion fidelity,movement,immersive soundscape,and agreement with historical observations and terrain.Through this VR environment,we develop an effective method to share historical events and,with future work,improve hazard awareness;applications of this method could improve citizen engagement with Early Warning Systems.This paper establishes a pipeline to produce a visualization tool for merging UAS imagery,Virtual Reality,digital scene creation,and sophisticated 2D hydraulic models to communicate catastrophic flooding events from natural or human-made levees or dams.

Flood risk assessment of check dams in the Wangmaogou watershed on the Loess Plateau of China

Check dams have been widely used in China’s Loess Plateau region due to their effectiveness in erosion and flood control.However,the safety and stability of the check dam decrease with the operation process,which increases the probability of dam failure during flood events and threatens local residents’ life and property.Thus,this study simulated flood process of the check dam failure in the Wangmaogou watershed in Yulin City,Shaanxi Province,China,calculated different types of inundation losses based on the flood inundation area within the watershed,and determined the number of key flood protection check dams by classifying the flood risk levels of the check dams.The results showed that 5 dams in the watershed were subject to overtopping during different rainfall return periods,which was related to their flood discharge capacity.Dam failure flood process showed a rapid growth trend followed by slow decrease,and the time of flood peak advanced with increase in the return period.After harmonization of evaluation scales,the magnitude of flood inundation losses can be ranked as:economic losses(212.409 million yuan) > life losses(10.368 million yuan) > ecological losses(6.433 million yuan).The risk value for both individual dams and the whole dam system decreases as the return period increases.The number of key flood protection check dams in the Wangmaogou watershed was 2,3,3,3,4,and 5 for floods with return periods of 10,20,30,50,100,and 200 years,respectively.The results provided a theoretical basis for the safe operation and risk evaluation of check dams in the Loess Plateau Hills watershed.

Seismic failure modes and seismic safety of Hardfill dam

Based on microscopic damage theory and the finite element method, and using the Weibull distribution to characterize the random distribution of the mechanical properties of materials, the seismic response of a typical Hardfill dam was analyzed through numerical simulation during the earthquakes with intensities of 8 degrees and even greater. The seismic failure modes and failure mechanism of the dam were explored as well. Numerical results show that the Hardfill dam remains at a low stress level and undamaged or slightly damaged during an earthquake with an intensity of 8 degrees. During overload earthquakes, tensile cracks occur at the dam surfaces and extend to inside the dam body, and the upstream dam body experiences more serious damage than the downstream dam body. Therefore, under the seismic conditions, the failure pattern of the Hardfill dam is the tensile fracture of the upstream regions and the dam toe. Compared with traditional gravity dams, Hardfill dams have better seismic performance and ~reater seismic safety.

Incremental dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dams including base and lift joints

The growth in computer processing power has made it possible to use time-consuming analysis methods such as incremental dynamic analysis（IDA） with higher accuracy in less time.In an IDA study,a series of earthquake records are applied to a structure at successively increasing intensity levels,which causes the structure to shift from the elastic state into the inelastic state and finally into collapse.In this way,the limit-states and capacity of a structure can be determined.In the present research,the IDA of a concrete gravity dam considering a nonlinear concrete behavior,and sliding planes within the dam body and at the dam-foundation interface,is performed.The influence of the friction angle and lift joint slope on the response parameters are investigated and the various limit-states of the dam are recognized.It is observed that by introducing a lift joint,the tensile damage can be avoided for the dam structure.The lift joint sliding is essentially independent of the base joint friction angle and the upper ligament over the inclined lift joint slides into the upstream direction in strong earthquakes.

Reducing risks in the investigation, design and construction of large concrete dams

An overview of the GeoSafe 2016 Symposium topic is provided using the example of large concrete dams for purposes of illustration.It is essential that the risks associated with large dams be evaluated rigorously and managed proactively at all stages of their lives so that the risk of failure remains As Low As Reasonably Practicable(ALARP).Rock engineering features of large concrete dams that require particular attention,assessment and monitoring during the investigation,design,construction,initial filling,inservice operation,and subsequent repair and upgrade stages of the lives of concrete dams are identified and illustrated by examples from recorded experiences.A number of major concrete dam failures,including that of the St.Francis dam,California,U.S.A.,in 1928,have led to significant developments in rock mechanics and rock engineering knowledge and techniques,as well as in dam design and review processes.More recent advances include a range of analytical,numerical modelling,probabilistic,reliability,failure mode and risk assessment approaches.

Dams and Floods

The possible mitigation of floods by dams and the risk to dams from floods are key problems. The People's Republic of China is now leading world dam construction with great success and efficiency. This paper is devoted to relevant experiences from other countries, with a particular focus on lessons from accidents over the past two centuries and on new solutions. Accidents from floods are analyzed according to the dam's height, storage, dam material, and spillway data. Most of the huge accidents that have been reported occurred for embankments storing over 10 hm3. New solutions appear promising for both dam safety and flood mitigation.

Rock engineering design of post-tensioned anchors for dams - A review

High-capacity, post-tensioned anchors have found wide-spread use, originally in initial dam design and construction, and more recently in the strengthening and rehabilitation of concrete dams to meet modern design and safety standards. Despite the advances that have been made in rock mechanics and rock engineering during the last 80 years in which post-tensioned anchors have been used in dam en- gineering, some aspects of the rock engineering design of high-capacity rock anchors for dams have changed relatively little over the last 30 or 40 years. This applies, in particular, to the calculations usually carried out to establish the grouted embedment lengths required for deep, post-tensioned anchors. These calculations usually make simplified assumptions about the distribution and values of rock-grout interface shear strengths, the shape of the volume of rock likely to be involved in uplift failure under the influence of a system of post-tensioned anchors, and the mechanism of that failure. The resulting designs are generally conservative. It is concluded that these aspects of the rock engineering design of large, post- tensioned rock anchors for dams can be significantly improved by making greater use of modern, comprehensive, numerical analyses in conjunction with three-dimensional （3D） models of the rock mass structure, realistic rock and rock mass properties, and the results of prototype anchor tests in the rock mass concerned.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE OF CASCADE LANDSLIDE DAMS

This paper presents results of model tests for the landslide dam failure of a single dam and cascade dams in a sloping channel. The dams were designed to be regular trapezoid with fine sand. A new measuring method named the labeled line locating method was used to digitalize the captured instantaneous pictures. Under two different inflow discharges, the morphological evolution and the flow patterns during one dam failure and the failure of cascade dams were investigated. The results indicate that when the inflow discharge is large, the deformation pattern of the downstream dam is similar to that of the upstream dam, and both dams are characterized with the overtopping scour throughout the dam failure process. When the inflow discharge is small, the upstream dam is scoured mainly through a sluice slot formed by the longitudinal incision, and the downstream dam is characterized with the overtopping scour. The data set presented in this paper can be used for the validation of numerical models and provide a reference for the flood risk management of cascade landslide dams.

Necessity of integrated methodology for hazard mitigation of quake lakes:case study of the Wenchuan Earthquake,China

The massive 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan Earthquake triggered huge landslides,avalanches,and debris flows that blocked rivers and created 34 important quake lakes,including the Tangjiashan Quake Lake on the Tongkou River.More than half of these lakes were identified to be of moderate or high hazard levels,so activities needed to be undertaken for hazard mitigation of potential flooding.This paper presents the mitigation processes of quake lake hazards,which involve various techniques such as rapid hazard analysis,scenario-based mitigation planning,and real-time forecasting of outburst flooding for implementation actions.The shortage of hydrologic and geological data and the nature of emergency situations raise substantial challenges in the hazard mitigation of quake lakes.This paper suggests a potential approach in dealing with quake lake hazards,which integrates the automatic monitoring network,hydrologic models,and hydrodynamic models with a comprehensive indicator for hazard levels.The necessity of improving the integrated methodology is highlighted.