Unloading performances and stabilizing practices for columnar jointed basalt:A case study of Baihetan hydropower station

The columnar jointed rock mass(CJR), composed of polygonal cross-sectional columns cut by several groups of joints in various directions, was exposed during the excavations of the Baihetan hydropower station, China. In order to investigate the unloading performances and the stability conditions during excavation of the columns, an experimental field study was performed. Firstly, on-site investigations indicated that the geotechnical problems, including rock relaxation, cracking and collapse, were the most prominent for the CJR Class I that contains intensive joint network and the smallest column sizes.Comprehensive field tests, including deformation measurement by multi-point extensometers, ultrasonic wave testing, borehole television observation and stress monitoring of rock anchors, revealed that the time-dependent relaxation of the CJRs was marked. The practical excavation experiences for the Baihetan columnar jointed rock masses, such as blasting scheme, supporting time of shotcrete and rock bolts, were presented in the excavations of the diversion tunnels. These detailed investigations and practical construction experiences can provide helpful information for similar geotechnical works in jointed rock mass.

Geometrical characteristic investigation of the Baihetan irregular columnar jointed basalt and corresponding numerical reconstruction method

Columnar jointed rock mass with unique geometric and geological properties is one spectacular example of geometrical order in nature.Columnar joints are generally accepted to be formed by spatially uniform volume contraction during cooling.In this paper,substantial field work was performed to study the geological characteristics of irregular columnar jointed basalt on the left bank dam foundation in the Baihetan Hydropower Station,where the columnar jointed rock mass is extensively exposed due to excavation.The quantitative measurements of the sizing of polygonal crack pattern of columnar joints and assessment of their degree of irregularity were summarized.Considering the irregularity of polygonal crack pattern,a modified Voronoi polygon(MVP)method was developed to model the special polygonal crack pattern of columnar joints.The new polygonal pattern obtained by the MVP method consists of a large number of irregular polygons,of which the degree of irregularity is consistent with the field measurement results.This method can reproduce the rapid evolution from an initial ideal regular hexagonal pattern to a final actual irregular polygonal pattern as the degree of irregularity increases.The compression tests of columnar jointed rock mass with different irregularity show that the geometric irregularity has a great influence on its mechanical properties.This numerical construction method provides a reliable way to reconstruct columnar joint structure with specific polygonal crack pattern,which is consistent with onsite columnar jointed basalt.

Feasibility of columnar jointed basalt used for high-arch dam foundation

Columnar jointed basalt, with a lot of small-spacing structural planes and poor integrity, is a kind of fractured rock mass. Through comprehensive study of columnar joints shape, roughness of fracture surface and chemical composition of basalt, it is known that columnar joints of Baihetan dam area were formed as a result of cooling and shrinkage effects of magma. The columnar jointed basalt is mainly formed through chemical reaction of chlorite, kaolinite, epidote and tremolite, and the columnar joints mainly consist of chlorite according to slice identification and chemical analysis. Test results show that the columnar jointed basalt has high uniaxial compressive strength, low friction coefficient, and high cohesion, shear strength and deformation index. Meanwhile, the columnar jointed basalt is closely locked, and joint surfaces are well closed. The permeability of the rock is quite weak, and the P-wave velocity in the rock could get up to 5 000 m/s. All these show good rock properties. The columnar joints develop regularly, different from the general fractured rock masses. In summary, the columnar jointed basalt can be used directly as a foundation of dam.

Loading-unloading test analysis of anisotropic columnar jointed basalts

To evaluate the columnar jointed basalts in the dam site of Baihetan hydropower station in southwest China, we developed a basic conceptual model of single jointed rock mass. Considering that the rock mass deformation consists of rock block deformation and joints deformation, the linear mechanical characteristics of the cell (including the elastic joints and the nonlinear mechanical behaviors of the cell) with a combined frictional-elastic interface were analyzed. We developed formulas to calculate the rock block deformation, which can be adapted for multiple jointed rock mass and columnar jointed basalts. The formulas are effective in calculating the equivalent modulus of multiple jointed rock mass, and precisely reveal the anisotropic properties of columnar jointed basalts. Furthermore, the in situ rigid bearing plate tests were analyzed and calculated, and the types of loading-unloading curves and the equivalent modulus along different directions of columnar jointed basalts were obtained. The analytical results are in close compliance with the test results.

Estimation of unloading relaxation depth of Baihetan Arch Dam foundation using long-short term memory network

The unloading relaxation caused by excavation for construction of high arch dams is an important factor influencing the foundation’s integrity and strength.To evaluate the degree of unloading relaxation,the long-short term memory(LSTM)network was used to estimate the depth of unloading relaxation zones on the left bank foundation of the Baihetan Arch Dam.Principal component analysis indicates that rock charac-teristics,the structural plane,the protection layer,lithology,and time are the main factors.The LSTM network results demonstrate the unloading relaxation characteristics of the left bank,and the relationships with the factors were also analyzed.The structural plane has the most significant influence on the distribution of unloading relaxation zones.Compared with massive basalt,the columnar jointed basalt experiences a more significant unloading relaxation phenomenon with a clear time effect,with the average unloading relaxation period being 50 d.The protection layer can effectively reduce the unloading relaxation depth by approximately 20%.

Study on Shear Strength Characteristics of Columnar Jointed Basalt Based on in-situ Direct Shear Test at Baihetan Hydropower Station

Columnar jointed basalt(CJB) widely distributes in the dam site of the Baihetan Hydropower Station.The columnar joint structure and fracture development of CJB have significant influence on the mechanical properties of rock mass,and the mechanical properties of CJB are of great significance to the Baihetan Hydropower Project.Therefore,in-situ direct shear tests were carried out on ten test adit at different locations in the dam site area to study the shear behavior of CJB.In this study,21 sets of in-situ direct shear tests were conducted for rock types of type Ⅱ_(2),type Ⅲ_(1)and type Ⅲ_(2),with horizontal and vertical shear planes and two different specimen sizes of CJB.Shear strength parameters of CJB were obtained by linear fitting of in-situ direct shear test results based on the Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion.The results indicate that the shear strength parameters of CJB with horizontal shear plane increase as the increase of rock type grade.The shear strength parameters of CJB show obvious anisotropy and the friction coefficient of the horizontal shear plane is greater than the vertical shear plane.The friction coefficient in the horizontal direction of the shear plane is 1.27 times that in the vertical direction of the shear plane.With the increase of rock type grade,the difference of friction coefficient becomes larger.However,the cohesion changes little whether the shear plane is horizontal or vertical.In addition,the size effect of CJB in this area is significant.The shear strength parameters of large size(100 cm × 100 cm) specimens are lower than those of regular size(50 cm × 50 cm) specimens.The reduction of cohesion is greater than that of the friction coefficient.For rock type Ⅲ_(2),the cohesion of large-size specimens is 0.637 of the regular-size specimens.The reduction percentage of the friction coefficient for type Ⅲ_(2)is 1.66 times that of type Ⅲ_(1).The reduction percentage of the cohesion for type Ⅲ_(2)is 1.27 times that of type Ⅲ_(1).The size effect decreases with the increase of rock type grade.The research results of this study can provide an important basis for the selection of rock mechanics parameters in the dam site area of Baihetan Hydropower Station and the stability analysis of the dam foundation and rocky slopes.

Key technical innovations in the construction of Baihetan Hydropower Station Project

1 Project positioning Baihetan Hydropower Station is classified as the second of the four hydropower cascades in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River:Wudongde,Baihetan,Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba.As an important backbone project for China to implement the strategy of West-to-East Power Transmission and optimize the energy structure,it constitutes an important part of the Yangtze River flood control system.Located at the junction of Ningnan County,Sichuan Province and Qiaojia County,Yunnan Province,the hydropower station is the largest hydropower project under construction in the world,with a unit capacity of million-kilowatts ranking the highest in the world and a total installed capacity of 16 million kW,second only to the Three Gorges Project,ranking the second in the world.