Technical Progress on Researches for the Safety of High Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dams

The concrete-faced rockfill dam(CFRD) is an important dam type in the selection of high dams to be constructed in Western China,owing to its direct utilization of local materials,good adaptability,and distinct economic advantages.Over the past decades,China has gained successful experience in the construction of 200 m CFRDs,providing the necessary technical accumulation for the development of 250–300 m ultra-high CFRDs.This paper summarizes these successful experiences and analyzes the problems of a number of major 200 m CFRDs around the world.In addition,it discusses the key technologies and latest research progress regarding safety in the construction of 250–300 m ultra-high CFRDs,and suggests focuses and general ideas for future research.

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.

A simplified physically-based breach model for a high concrete-faced rockfill dam:A case study

A simplified physically-based model was developed to simulate the breaching process of the Gouhou concrete-faced rockfill dam （CFRD）, which is the only breach case of a high CFRD in the world. Considering the dam height, a hydraulic method was chosen to simulate the initial scour position on the downstream slope, with the steepening of the downstream slope taken into account; a headcut erosion formula was adopted to simulate the backward erosion as well. The moment equilibrium method was utilized to calculate the ultimate length of a concrete slab under its self-weight and water loads. The calculated results of the Gouhou CFRD breach case show that the proposed model provides reasonable peak breach flow, final breach width, and failure time, with relative errors less than 15% as compared with the measured data. Sensitivity studies show that the outputs of the proposed model are more or less sensitive to different parameters. Three typical parametric models were compared with the proposed model, and the comparison demonstrates that the proposed physically-based breach model performs better and provides more detailed results than the parametric models.

Reservoir water effects on earthquake performance evaluation of Torul Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dam

This study presents earthquake performance analysis of the Torul Concrete-Faced Rockfill （CFR） Dam with two-dimensional dam-soil and dam-soil-reservoir finite element models. The Lagrangian approach was used with fluid elements to model impounded water. The interface elements were used to simulate the slippage between the concrete face slab and the rockfill. The horizontal component of the 1992 Erzincan earthquake, with a peak ground acceleration of 0.515g, was considered in time-history analysis. The Drucker-Prager model was preferred in nonlinear analysis of the concrete slab, rockfill and foundation soil. The maximum principal stresses and the maximum displacements in two opposite directions were compared by the height of the concrete slab according to linear time-history analysis to reveal the effect of reservoir water. The changes of critical displacements and principal stresses with time are also shown in this paper. According to linear and nonlinear time-history analysis, the effect of the reservoir water on the earthquake performance of the Torul CFR Dam was investigated and the possible damage situation was examined. The results show that the hydrodynamic pressure of reservoir water leads to an increase in the maximum displacements and principal stresses of the dam and reduces the earthquake performance of the dam. Although the linear time-history analysis demonstrates that the earthquake causes a momentous damage to the concrete slab of the Torul CFR Dam, the nonlinear time-history analysis shows that no evident damage occurs in either reservoir case.

Distribution of acceleration and empirical formula for calculating maximum acceleration of rockfill dams

To find the distribution patterns of dynamic amplification coefficients for dams subjected to earthquake, 3D seismic responses of concrete-faced rockfill dams with different heights and different shapes of river valley were analyzed by using the equivalent-linear model. Statistical analysis was also made to the seismic coefficient, and an empirical formula for calculating the maximum acceleration was provided. The results indicate that under the condition of the same dam height and the same base acceleration excitations, with the increase of the river valley width, the position of the maximum acceleration on the axis of the top of the dam moves from the center to the riversides symmetrically. For the narrow valleys, the maximum acceleration occurs in the middle of the axis at the top of the dam; for wide valleys the maximum acceleration appears near the riversides. The result negates the application of 2D dynamical computation for wide valleys, and shows that for the seismic response of high concrete-faced rockfill dams, the seismic coefficient along the axis should be given, except for that along the dam height. Seismic stability analysis of rockfill dams using pseudo-static method can be modified according to the formula.

Three-dimensional seismic response analysis of a concrete-faced rockfill dam on overburden layers

Reasonable seismic response analysis of a high rockfill dam is of great engineering significance in guiding its design and ensuring its seismic safety during operation,especially of a concrete-faced rockfill dam(CFRD)on overburden layers.The three-dimensional seismic behavior of the Miaojiaba CFRD is simulated and analyzed by the finite element method(FEM).The results indicate that:1)the amplification coefficient along the dam axis gradually increases with the altitude,and reaches maximum at the dam crest;2)the vertical residual deformation mainly exhibits downwards and reaches maximum near the dam crest;3)the earthquake significantly aggravates the deformation of peripheral joints;4)the impounding condition and overburden characteristics have great effects on the dam's seismic response.

董箐水电站面板堆石坝设计

董箐水电站面板堆石坝最大坝高150m,是目前国内率先采用砂岩和泥岩混合料用作坝体堆石料的高面板堆石坝。该电站通过对工程开挖料的利用和对砂泥岩筑坝技术的研究,在吸收了以往类似工程的先进做法和成功经验的基础上,根据砂泥岩料的特点进行了创新设计,取得了砂泥岩筑坝技术的系列设计成果。

高面板坝全寿命周期变形控制方法及应用

高面板坝的变形对面板的安全运行有着特别重要的影响,国内外已建的高面板坝工程中,因坝体变形大导致防渗面板挤压破损,坝体渗漏量大的实例较多,不得不降低水库水位进行修复处理,造成较大的经济损失乃至给大坝的长期运行留下安全隐患。通过发生挤压破损的实例分析,发现变形控制缺乏系统性是发生面板挤压破损的主要因素,为预防面板破损,系统提出了“控制坝体总变形,转化有害变形,适应纵向变形”的坝体变形控制方法,并在使用软硬岩混合料筑坝的董箐面板堆石坝中得到的应用,取得了良好效果,该工程运行至今达十余年,未见面板有挤压破损迹象,该方法对建设200 m以上乃至300 m级超高面板坝具有重要借鉴意义。

Investigation of the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake damages to the Zipingpu Water Control Project and an assessment of its safety state

On May 12, 2008, a major earthquake measured 8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in Si- chuan Province, China with the epicentral intensity of XI degrees. Zipingpu Dam is located 17.17 km from the epicenter and the influence intensity at the damsite reached IX―X degrees. It is the first time in the world for such a high concrete-faced rockfill dam (CFRD) in China to experience such a strong earthquake occurring in such a short distance. Due to its location of special importance to the down- stream areas, the safety state and damaging condition of the Zipingpu Dam has attracted great atten- tions from various circles. Based on site investigation of the damages to the Zipingpu Dam and com- parison analysis of the observation data obtained before and after the earthquake, the paper makes a comprehensive assessment of the key technical issues relevant to this high CFRD, including its safety state and the high slope stability after the earthquake.

Strengthening of the concrete face slabs of dams using sprayable strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composites

In this study,sprayable strain-hardening fiber-reinforced cementitious composites(FRCC)were applied to strengthen the concrete slabs in a concrete-face rockfill dam(CFRD)for the first time.Experimental,numerical,and analytical investigations were carried out to understand the flexural properties of FRCC-layered concrete slabs.It was found that the FRCC layer improved the flexural performance of concrete slabs significantly.The cracking and ultimate loads of a concrete slab with an 80 mm FRCC layer were 132%and 69%higher than those of the unstrengthened concrete slab,respectively.At the maximum crack width of 0.2 mm,the deflection of the 80-mm FRCC strengthened concrete slab was 144%higher than that of the unstrengthened concrete slab.In addition,a FE model and a simplified analytical method were developed for the design and analysis of FRCC-layered concrete slabs.Finally,the test result of FRCC leaching solution indicated that the quality of the water surrounding FRCC satisfied the standard for drinking water.The findings of this study indicate that the sprayable strain-hardening FRCC has a good potential for strengthening hydraulic structures such as CFRDs.