Seepage safety monitoring model for an earth rock dam under influence of high-impact typhoons based on particle swarm optimization algorithm

Extreme hydrological events induced by typhoons in reservoir areas have presented severe challenges to the safe operation of hydraulic structures. Based on analysis of the seepage characteristics of an earth rock dam, a novel seepage safety monitoring model was constructed in this study. The nonlinear influence processes of the antecedent reservoir water level and rainfall were assumed to follow normal distributions. The particle swarm optimization （PSO） algorithm was used to optimize the model parameters so as to raise the fitting accuracy. In addition, a mutation factor was introduced to simulate the sudden increase in the piezometric level induced by short-duration heavy rainfall and the possible historical extreme reservoir water level during a typhoon. In order to verify the efficacy of this model, the earth rock dam of the Siminghu Reservoir was used as an example. The piezometric level at the SW1-2 measuring point during Typhoon Fitow in 2013 was fitted with the present model, and a corresponding theoretical expression was established. Comparison of fitting results of the piezometric level obtained from the present statistical model and traditional statistical model with monitored values during the typhoon shows that the present model has a higher fitting accuracy and can simulate the uprush feature of the seepage pressure during the typhoon perfectly.

Evaluation of behaviors of earth and rockfill dams during construction and initial impounding using instrumentation data and numerical modeling

In this study,the behavior of Gavoshan dam was evaluated during construction and the first impounding.A two-dimensional（2D） numerical analysis was conducted based on a finite difference method on the largest cross-section of the dam using the results of instrument measurements and back analysis.These evaluations will be completed in the case that back analysis is carried out in order to control the degree of the accuracy and the level of confidence of the measured behavior since each of the measurements could be controlled by comparing it to the result obtained from the numerical model.Following that,by comparing the results of the numerical analysis with the measured values,it is indicated that there is a proper consistency between these two values.Moreover,it was observed that the dam performance was suitable regarding the induced pore water pressure,the pore water pressure ratio r;,settlement,induced stresses,arching degree,and hydraulic fracturing probability during the construction and initial impounding periods.The results demonstrated that the maximum settlement of the core was 238 cm at the end of construction.In the following 6 years after construction（initial impounding and exploitation period）,the accumulative settlement of the dam was 270 cm.It is clear that 88% of the total settlement of the dam took place during dam construction.The reason is that the clay core was smashed in the wet side,i.e.the optimum moisture content.Whereas the average curving ratio was 0.64 during dam construction; at the end of the initial impounding,the maximum amount of curving ratio in the upstream was 0.81,and the minimum（critical） amount in the downstream was 0.52.It was also concluded that this dam is safe in comparison with the behaviors of other similar dams in the world.

Optimizing Earth Allocation for Rock-Fill Dam Construction

An optimal allocation of earth is of great significance to reduce the project cost and duration in the construction of rock-fill dams. The earth allocation is a dynamic system affected by various time-space constraints. Based on previous studies, a new method of optimizing this dynamic system as a static one is presented. In order to build a generalized and flexible model of the problem, some man-made constraints were investigated in building the mathematic model. Linear programming and simplex method are introduced to solve the optimization problem of earth allocation. A case study in a large-scale rock-fill dam construction project is presented to demonstrate the proposed method and its successful application shows the feasibility and effectiveness of the method.

Effect of Seismic Permanent Deformation on Safety and Stability of Earth-Rock Dam Slope

In order to study the effect of seismic permanent deformation on the safety and stability of earth-rock dam, the permanent deformation is considered as the non-design permanent load, and the stress-strain hysteresis curve is also considered when the earth is under cyclic load. The research work can make the calculation results of plastic collapse more accurate by including the effect of the post-earthquake degree of plastic deformation on the stability of the earth-rock dam, and the dam safety factor decreases from 2.50 to 1.90 after the magnitude-8 earthquake. Moreover, the research work will also improve the design of the earth-rock dam under abnormal operating conditions.

Dynamic Risk Assessment Index System for Earth-Rock Dam during Construction

During the construction of earth-rock dam,mutual exclusive construction goals such as quality,safety,progress and cost all have influences on each other,with risk factors being everchanging as the construction progresses.Accurate identification of the risk factors,as well as clearing any possible effect that any risk factors might have on the construction project is the key and foundation to our cooperative control of the construction goals.According to the construction planning of earth-rock dam,the hall3 D structure was used to identify the potential changes of risk factors,and the possible means of any risk factors to interfere with the construction goals.The dynamic risk assessment index system is established by deploying the WBS-RBS(work breakdown structurerisk breakdown structure)method,aiming at the construction goals of earth-rock dam.The case study shows that the index system is very effective at risk management of earth-rock dam during construction,and relatively practicable.

Comparison between the Isotope Tracking Method and Resistivity Tomography of Earth Rock-Fill Dam Seepage Detection

This paper compares the different inversion results of three different earth rock-fill dam models with the actual leakage passages by performing isotope tracing tests and resistivity tomographic tests. The accuracy of the experimental results is evaluated, and the characteristics of these two methods are analyzed. As a result, some significant references are offered for earth rock-fill dam’s hidden defects detection. The experimental results show that the leakage and the direction of the seepage can be judged by isotope tracing tests, meanwhile, the degree of the leakage can be confirmed through the determination of the horizontal seepage velocity and the vertical seepage velocity, but it is difficult to properly determine the position of leakage passages and the range of leakage. Relatively speaking, the positions of the leakage passages can be accurately and directly displayed through resistivity tomographic tests. The experiment results show that the resistivity tomographic method is much better than isotope tracing method with regard to earth rock-fill dam’s hidden defects detection, and the resistivity tomographic method expresses much more convenience and much higher precision than isotope tracing method.

Application of 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography for Diagnosing Leakage in Earth Rock-Fill Dam

The leakage occurs during operation of the dam in Liuhuanggou reservoir. It’s a threat to the safety of the people’s lives and property in downstream. In order to eliminate the hidden danger of reservoir, ensure the safety of the dam, play better the function of flood control and water storage of the reservoir etc., we apply the 3D electrical resistivity tomography detecting technology and volume rendering image processing technology, make the measurement in field, process the data and combine the field survey to find out the leakage channels inside the dam. The results show that the 3D resistivity images appear the low resistivity zone corresponding with the leakage channels. There are two main leakage channels that come from different location inside the dam. It is feasible to diagnose the leakage in earth rock-fill dam by applying 3D electrical resistivity tomography.

Characteristics and factors that influenced damage to dams in the M_s 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

Based on raw data from dams damaged in the Wenchuan earthquake, including many that were severely damaged, characteristics and factors that influenced the damage are discussed in this paper. Findings from this study include： severely damaged dams were densely distributed along the seismologic fault; small dams, especially small earth-rock dams, had the most serious damage that was caused by a variety of factors; the most serious damage was caused by seismic waves; damage was aggregated by aftershocks; and the extent of the damage patterns increased with the seismic intensity. Damage patterns varied in different intensity zones and cracking was the most common type of damage. Most of the dams had a good base with relatively high bearing capacity, and the walls of the earth-rock dams were mostly of clay soil. This type of base and body material mitigated some of the damage to dams. Reservoir maintenance and other factors also have a significant impact on the seismic safety of the dam. Finally, some recommendations to reduce seismic damage to dams are proposed.

Rare Earths of Magmatic Rocks in Yanshanian Stage in Adjacent Region of Anhui and Jiangxi Provinces, Jiangnan Uplift

The geochemical characteristics of rare earth elements of magmatic rocks of Yanshanian stage were studied in the south of Anhui Province and northeast of Jiangxi Province, Jiangnan Uplift. The result shows that the magmatic rocks of Yanshanian stage in the south of Anhui Province are the typical crust source type and those in the northeast of Jiangxi Province have the characteristics of mantle source type. So the polymetal deposits having relation to the magmatic rocks of Yanshanian stage in the northeast of Jiangxi Province were developed better than those in the south of Anhui Province. The research results of the rare earth elements are confirmed by the studies of geophysics,tectonic setting and stable isotope at the same time. It also indicates that the rare earth elements are the effective approach to tracing the material sources of magmatic rocks.

Seepage simulation of high concrete-faced rockfill dams based on generalized equivalent continuum model

This research focused on the three-dimensional(3 D) seepage field simulation of a high concrete-faced rockfill dam(CFRD) under complex hydraulic conditions. A generalized equivalent continuum model of fractured rock mass was used for equivalent continuous seepage field analysis based on the improved node virtual flow method. Using a high CFRD as an example, the generalized equivalent continuum range was determined, and a finite element model was established based on the terrain and geological conditions, as well as structural face characteristics of the dam area. The equivalent seepage coefficients of different material zones or positions in the dam foundation were calculated with the Snow model or inverse analysis. Then, the 3 D seepage field in the dam area was calculated under the normal water storage conditions, and the corresponding water head distribution, seepage flow, seepage gradient, and seepage characteristics in the dam area were analyzed. The results show that the generalized equivalent continuum model can effectively simulate overall seepage patterns of the CFRD under complex hydraulic conditions and provide a reference for seepage analysis of similar CFRDs.

Risk analysis for earth dam overtopping

In this paper, a model of overtopping risk under the joint effects of floods and wind waves, which is based on risk analysis theory and takes into account the uncertainties of floods, wind waves, reservoir capacity and discharge capacity of the spillway, is proposed and applied to the Chengbihe Reservoir in Baise City in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The simulated results indicate that the flood control limiting level can be raised by 0.40 m under the condition that the reservoir overtopping risk is controlled within a mean variance of 5×10-6. As a result, the reservoir storage will increase to 16 million m3 and electrical energy generation and other functions of the reservoir will also increase greatly.

Rare Earth Element Geochemistry on Magmatic Rocks and Gold Deposits in Shizishan Ore-Field of Tongling, China

REE geochemical characteristics of the magmatic rocks and gold deposits in Shizishan ore-field of Tongling were studied. Three types of the magmatic rocks have almost the same chondrite-normalized REE patterns, Eu and Ce anomalous values, and ∑REE, ∑LREE/∑HREE regular changes, which indicates that their magmas come from the same source and their digenetic mechanism is fractional crystallization. In three gold deposits, the mineral ores and related altered rocks have similar chondrite-normalized REE patterns and sharp Eu positive anomalous values. The REE contents reduced from the magmatic rocks to skamization or alteration magmatic rocks, skam type ores, sulphide type ores, wall-rocks limestone or marble. The REE geochemical characteristics of the ores and related rocks show that primary fluids originated from magmatic differentiation in lower pressure of shallow crust, ore-forming hydrothermal solutions gained REE and mineralization elements further from leaching the magmatic rocks, then superimposed and reformed the limestones or marbles and deposited ore-forming material.

Rare Earths, Trace Element Characteristics of High-Mg Volcanic Rocks of Yixian Formation in Sihetun West Liaoning Province and Its Apocalypse

The high-Mg volcanic rocks of the Yixian Formation in the Sihetun area have the obvious characteristics of mantie-derived lava in rare earth, trace element characteristics with high Mg # （62 - 70） and high content of compatible elements. In the meantime, the volcanic rocks also have the obvious characteristics of Crust-source material in rare earth, trace element characteristics with high ∑ REE （ 158.78 × 10^-6 - 359.66 × 10^-6 ）, high （La/Yb） N （ 14.61 - 29.60）, high La/Nb（2.37 - 7.52） and high Ba/Nb （67.58- 205.96）, obvious positive anomaly of Pb and negative anomaly of Nb, Ta in trace element spider-gram. In Sr-Nd-Pb isotope the （^87Sr/^86Sr）i ratio is higher than 0.706 and the εNd（ t ） ratio is from - 3.4 to - 13, both reflect enriched Mantle characteristics. The characteristics above of the volcanic rocks combined with the content of Sr, Ba, Y, Yb and the ratio of Sr/Y show that the volcanic rocks have the property of the Sanukite rocks in Setouchi Japan beside subduction zone, and illuminate that the Sanukite rocks can be formed not only in island-arc near subduction zone but also in intro-plate. The analysis indicates that the high-Mg volcanic rocks in the Sihetun area result from the collective function of mantle-derived lava and crust-source materials. The result illuminates that the West Liaoning region is very special in tectonic geochemical background in Cretaceous in East China, and is an ideal region for us to further study the characteristics of magmatic activity as well as the process of Crust-Mantle interaction in Eastern China.

Top coal caving mining technique in thick coal seam beneath the earth dam

It is important to study the mining technology under structures for raising the coal resources recovery ratio. Based on the geological and mining conditions, the top coal caving harmonic mining technique in thick coal seam beneath the earth dam was put forward and studied. The 5 factors such as the panel mining direction, panel size, panel location, panel mining sequence and panel advance velocity were taken into account in this technique. The dam movement and deformation were predicted after the thick coal seam mining and the effects of mining on the dam were studied. By setting up the surveying stations on the dam, the movement and deformation of the dam were observed during mining. By taking some protective measures on the dam, the top coal caving mining technique in thick coal seam beneath the earth dam was carried out successfully. The study demonstrates that harmonic mining in thick coal seam is feasible under the dam. The safety of the earth dam after mining was ensured and the coal resources recovery ratio was improved.

Geochemistry of Rare Earth Elements of Mesozoic-Cenozoic Sandstones in North Margin of Dabie Mountains and Adjacent Areas: Constraints to Source Rocks

Based on the study of REE in Mesozoic-Cenozoic sandstones, the paper indicates that Jurassic Fanghushan and Yuantongshan Formations and Lower Cretaceous Zhougongshan Formation have ∑REE of 157 μg·g^(-1), δ_(Eu) of 0.69 and (La/Yb)_N of 11.1, which are similar to the Foziling and Luzhenguan Groups, and it implies that the latter may be the source rocks of the former. The Sanjianpu and Heishidu Formations have high REE concentrations (∑REE=264.8 μg·g^(-1), 328.2 μg·g^(-1) respectively), high Eu anomaly (δ_(Eu)=0.57, 0.67 respectively) and lower Eu/Sm ratios (0.18～0.19), which differs from existent metamorphic rocks in the Dabie Mountains, so where their source rocks came from remains to be studied. The REE features of the Zhengyangguan Formation can be comparable to the Dabie complex and Luzhenguan Group, which shows that the Dabie complex had suffered unroofing in Neocene and constituted the source rocks. Mesozoic sandstones in Huainan area have lower REE concentrations (∑REE=80.9 μg·g^(-1)), high Eu anomaly (δ_(Eu)=0.66) and (La/Yb)_N of 5.7, and it indicates that their source rocks may not come from the Dabie Mountains.

Enrichment and Release of Rare Earth Elements during Weathering of Sedimentary Rocks in Wujiang Catchments

Thirteen weathering profiles of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, silicalite, black shale and purple sandrock from Wujiang catchments were selected for study on enrichment and release behavior of rare earth elements （REE） during weathering, and in its impact on plant growth and riverine REE distribution in the catchments with methods of hierachical cluster analysis and mass balance calculation in order to set a basis for riverine material source research and agricultural production. The results show that the enrichment degree of REE in calcareous soils from the Wujiang catchments is much higher than that of limestone, yellow soil, upper continental crust （UCC）,

A quantitative model for danger degree evaluation of staged operation of earth dam reservoir in flood season and its application

Based on the natural disaster risk evaluation mode, a quantitative danger degree evaluation model was developed to evaluate the danger degree of earth dam reservoir staged operation in the flood season. A formula for the overtopping risk rate of the earth dam reservoir staged operation was established, with consideration of the joint effect of flood and wind waves in the flood sub-seasons with the Monte Carlo method, and the integrated overtopping risk rate for the whole flood season was obtained via the total probability approach. A composite normalized function was used to transform the dam overtopping risk rate into the danger degree, on a scale of 0-1. Danger degree gradating criteria were divided by four significant characteristic values of the dam overtopping rate, and corresponding guidelines for danger evaluation are explained in detail in this paper. Examples indicated that the dam overtopping danger degree of the Chengbihe Reservoir in China was 0.33-0.57, within the range of moderate danger level, and the flood-limiting water level （FLWL） can be adjusted to 185.00 m for the early and main flood seasons, and 185.00-187.50 m for the late flood season. The proposed quantitative model offers a theoretical basis for determination of the value of the danger degree of an earth dam reservoir under normal operation as well as the optimal scheduling scheme for the reservoir in each stage of the flood season.

Variation in hydraulic conductivity of fractured rocks at a dam foundation during operation

Characterizing the permeability variation in fractured rocks is important in various subsurface applications,but how the permeability evolves in the foundation rocks of high dams during operation remains poorly understood.This permeability change is commonly evidenced by a continuous decrease in the amount of discharge(especially for dams on sediment-laden rivers),and can be attributed to fracture clogging and/or hydromechanical coupling.In this study,the permeability evolution of fractured rocks at a high arch dam foundation during operationwas evaluated by inverse modeling based on the field timeseries data of both pore pressure and discharge.A procedure combining orthogonal design,transient flow modeling,artificial neural network,and genetic algorithm was adopted to efficiently estimate the hydraulic conductivity values in each annual cycle after initial reservoir filling.The inverse results show that the permeability of the dam foundation rocks follows an exponential decay annually during operation(i.e.K/K0=0.97e^(-0.59t)+0.03),with good agreement between field observations and numerical simulations.The significance of the obtained permeability decay function was manifested by an assessment of the long-term seepage control performance and groundwater flow behaviors at the dam site.The proposed formula is also of merit for characterizing the permeability change in riverbed rocks induced by sediment transport and deposition.

Mechanism of Formation of Premian Volcanic Rocks in Sawu′er Region, Xinjiang, China: Constraints from Rare Earth Elements

A large quantity of Premian volcanic rocks formed in Sawu＇er region of Xinjiang, China. Based on the analysis of the rare earth elements＇ （REEs） geochemical characteristics of the volcanic rocks, the correlativity of REE and major elements, and diagrams of covariant relation of REE, combined with the research results of the regional geological setting, petrology, and petrochemistry characteristics, it is inferred that the mechanism of the formation of Premian basic and intermediate volcanic rocks is mainly attributed to equilibrium partial melting, and the magmatic fractional crystallization is not significant, whereas the rock-forming processes of medium-acidic volcanic rocks is influenced by both partial melting and fractional crystallization. The REE geochemical research provided important evidence for the mechanism of magmatism of the Premian post-collision stage and the geodynamical evolution process.

Seismic rehabilitation and analysis of Chaohe earth dam

Stability of earth dams during earthquakes has been a major concern for gcotechnical engineers in seismic active regions. Liquefaction induced slope failure occurred at the upstream slope of a major earth dam in the suburb of Beijing, China, during the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake. The gravelly soil with loose initial condition liquefied under relatively small ground vibration. In recent years, a major seismic rehabilitation project was carried out on a similar earth dam nearby using dumped quarry stone. Seismic stability analysis was carried out using model test, finite element simulation, and pseudostatic slope stability program after taking into account the influence of excess pore pressure.