Optimal sensor placement in hydropower house based on improved triaxial effective independence method

The capacity and size of hydro-generator units are increasing with the rapid development of hydroelectric enterprises, and the vibration of the powerhouse structure has increasingly become a major problem. Field testing is an important method for research on dynamic identification and vibration mechanisms. Research on optimal sensor placement has become a very important topic due to the need to obtain effective testing information from limited test resources. To overcome inadequacies of the present methods, this paper puts forward the triaxial effective independence driving-point residue （EfI3-DPR3） method for optimal sensor placement. The Efl3-DPR3 method can incorporate both the maximum triaxial modal kinetic energy and linear independence of the triaxial target modes at the selected nodes. It was applied to the optimal placement oftriaxial sensors for vibration testing in a hydropower house, and satisfactory results were obtained. This method can provide some guidance for optimal placement of triaxial sensors of underground powerhouses.

Vibration analysis of hydropower house based on fluid-structure coupling numerical method

By using the shear stress transport （SST） model to predict the effect ot random now motion in a fluid zone, and using the Newmark method to solve the oscillation equations in a solid zone, a coupling model of the .powerhouse and its tube water was developed. The effects of fluid-structure interaction are considered through the kinematic and dynamic conditions applied to the fluid-structure interfaces （FSI）. Numerical simulation of turbulent flow through the whole flow passage of the powerhouse and concrete structure vibration analysis in the time domain were carried out with the model. Considering the effect of coupling the turbulence and the powerhouse structure, the time history response of both turbulent flows through the whole flow passage and powerhouse structure vibration were generated. Concrete structure vibration analysis shows that the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the dynamo floor respond dramatically to pressure fluctuations in the flow passage. Furthermore, the spectrum analysis suggests that pressure fluctuation originating from the static and dynamic disturbances of hydraulic turbine blades in the flow passage is one of the most important vibration sources.

Static and Dynamic Damage Analysis of Mass Concrete in Hydropower House of Three Gorges Project

This paper establishes a 3D numerical model for 15# hydropower house of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) and performs a nonlinear static and dynamic damage analysis. In this numerical model, a coupling model of finite and infinite elements for simulating infinite foundation of hydropower station is adopted. A plastic-damage model based on continuum damage mechanics, which includes the softening and damage behavior under tension is considered for the concrete material. The dynamic equilibrium equations of moti...

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of the Three Gorge Project powerhouse excited by pressure fluctuation

This study established a 3D finite element model for 15# hydropower house of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) and performed a nonlinear dynamic analysis under pressure fluctuation. In this numerical model, the stiffness degradation in tension for concrete was considered on the basis of the continuum isotropic damage theory. Natural vibration frequencies of the damaged and undamaged structures were compared after static water pressure was applied. Then a study was further conducted on forced vibration of the powerhouse with pre-existing damages under pressure fluctuation that acts on the flow passage; displacement, velocity and acceleration of the important structural members were afterwards presented and checked. Numerical results show that tensile damages in concrete surrounding the spiral case only exert significant impact upon the dynamic characteristics of substructure but show little effect on the superstructure. Nevertheless vibrations of the powerhouse are still under the recommended vibration limits.