Optimization design of foundation excavation for Xiluodu super-high arch dam in China

With better understanding of the quality and physico-mechanical properties of rocks of dam foundation,and the physico-mechanical properties and structure design of arch dam in association with the foundation excavation of Xiluodu arch dam,the excavation optimization design was proposed for the foundation surface on the basis of feasibility study.Common analysis and numerical analysis results demonstrated the feasibility of using the weakly weathered rocks III1and III2as the foundation surface of super-high arch dam.In view of changes in the geological conditions at the dam foundation along the riverbed direction,the design of extending foundation surface excavation area and using consolidating grouting and optimizing structure of dam bottom was introduced,allowing for harmonization of the arch dam and foundation.Three-dimensional(3D)geomechanics model test and fi nite element analysis results indicated that the dam body and foundation have good overload stability and high bearing capacity.The monitoring data showed that the behaviors of dam and foundation correspond with the designed patterns in the construction period and the initial operation period.

Analysis of seismic disaster failure mechanism and dam-break simulation of high arch dam

Based on a Chinese national high arch dam located in a meizoseismal region, a nonlinear numerical analysis model of the damage and failure process of a dam-foundation system is established by employing a 3-D deformable distinct element code(3DEC) and its re-development functions. The proposed analysis model considers the dam-foundation-reservoir coupling effect, infl uence of nonlinear contact in the opening and closing of the dam seam surface and abutment rock joints during strong earthquakes, and radiation damping of far fi eld energy dissipation according to the actual workability state of an arch dam. A safety assessment method and safety evaluation criteria is developed to better understand the arch dam system disaster process from local damage to ultimate failure. The dynamic characteristics, disaster mechanism, limit bearing capacity and the entire failure process of a high arch dam under a strong earthquake are then analyzed. Further, the seismic safety of the arch dam is evaluated according to the proposed evaluation criteria and safety assessment method. As a result, some useful conclusions are obtained for some aspects of the disaster mechanism and failure process of an arch dam. The analysis method and conclusions may be useful in engineering practice.

Stability and reinforcement analyses of high arch dams by considering deformation effects

The strict definition and logical description of the concept of structure stability and failure are presented. The criterion of structure stability is developed based on plastic complementary energy and its variation. It is presented that the principle of minimum plastic complementary energy is the combination of structure equilibrium, coordination condition of deformation and constitutive relationship. Based on the above arguments, the deformation reinforcement theory is developed. The structure global stability can be described by the relationship between the global degree of safety of structure and the plastic complementary energy. Correspondingly, the new idea is used in the evaluations of global stability, anchorage force of dam-toe, fracture of dam-heel and treatment of faults of high arch dams in China. The results show that the deformation reinforcement theory provides a uniform and practical theoretical framework and a valuable solution for the analysis of global stability, dam-heel cracking, dam-toe anchorage and reinforcement of faults of high arch dams and their foundations.

Parallel computation of seismic analysis of high arch dam

Parallel computation programs are developed for three-dimensional meso-mechanics analysis of fully-graded dam concrete and seismic response analysis of high arch dams （ADs）, based on the Parallel Finite Element Program Generator （PFEPG）. The computational algorithms of the numerical simulation of the meso-structure of concrete specimens were studied. Taking into account damage evolution, static preload, strain rate effect, and the heterogeneity of the meso-structure of dam concrete, the fracture processes of damage evolution and configuration of the cracks can be directly simulated. In the seismic response analysis of ADs, all the following factors are involved, such as the nonlinear contact due to the opening and slipping of the contraction joints, energy dispersion of the far-field foundation, dynamic interactions of the dam-foundation- reservoir system, and the combining effects of seismic action with all static loads. The correctness, reliability and efficiency of the two parallel computational programs are verified with practical illustrations.

Construction Simulation and Real-Time Control for High Arch Dam

A method of combining dynamic simulation with real-time control was proposed to fit the randomness and uncertainty in the high arch dam construction process. The mathematical logic model of high arch dam construction process was established. By combining dynamic construction simulation with schedule analysis, the process of construction schedule forecasting and analysis based on dynamic simulation was studied. The process of real-time schedule control was constructed and some measures for dynamic adjustment and control of construction schedule were provided. A system developed with the method is utilized in a being constructed hydroelectric project located at the Yellow River in northwest China, which can make the pouring plan of the dam in the next stage (a month, quarter or year) to guide the practical construction. The application result shows that the system provides an effective technical support for the construction and management of the dam.

Automatic modal parameter identification of high arch dams:feasibility verification

Modal parameters, including fundamental frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes, could be used to evaluate the health condition of structures. Automatic modal parameter identification, which plays an essential role in realtime structural health monitoring, has become a popular topic in recent years. In this study, an automatic modal parameter identification procedure for high arch dams is proposed. The proposed procedure is implemented by combining the densitybased spatial clustering of applications with noise(DBSCAN) algorithm and the stochastic subspace identification(SSI). The 210-m-high Dagangshan Dam is investigated as an example to verify the feasibility of the procedure. The results show that the DBSCAN algorithm is robust enough to interpret the stabilization diagram from SSI and may avoid outline modes. This leads to the proposed procedure obtaining a better performance than the partitioned clustering and hierarchical clustering algorithms. In addition, the errors of the identified frequencies of the arch dam are within 4%, and the identified mode shapes are in agreement with those obtained from the finite element model, which implies that the proposed procedure is accurate enough to use in modal parameter identification. The procedure is feasible for online modal parameter identification and modal tracking of arch dams.

Earthquake safety assessment of concrete arch and gravity dams

Based on research studies currently being carried out at Dalian University of Technology, some important aspects for the earthquake safety assessmcnt of concrete dams are reviewed and discussed. First, the rate-dependent behavior of concrcte subjected to earthquake loading is examined, emphasizing the properties of concrete under cyclic and biaxial loading conditions. Second, a modified four-parameter Hsieh-Ting-Chen viscoplastic consistency model is developed to simulate the rate-dependent behavior of concrete. The earthquake response of a 278m high arch dam is analyzed, and the results show that the strain-rate effects become noticeable in the inelastic range, Third, a more accurate non-smooth Newton algorithm for the solution of three-dimensional frictional contact problems is developed to study the joint opening effects of arch dams during strong earthquakes. Such effects on two nearly 300m high arch dams have been studied. It was found that the canyon shape has great influence on the magnitude and distribution of the joint opening along the dam axis. Fourth, the scaled boundary finite element method presented by Song and Wolf is employed to study the dam-reservoir-foundation interaction effects of concrete dams. Particular emphases were placed on the variation of foundation stiffness and the anisotropic behavior of the foundation material on the dynamic response of concrete dams. Finally, nonlinear modeling of concrete to study the damage evolution of concrete dams during strong earthquakes is discussed. An elastic-damage mechanics approach for damage prediction of concrete gravity dams is described as an example. These findings are helpful in understanding the dynamic behavior of concrete dams and promoting the improvement of seismic safety assessment methods.

Key technologies for the construction of the Xiluodu high arch dam on the Jinsha River in the development of hydropower in western China

Hydropower development in China is concentrated in the country's western regions.Among all the rivers in China,the lower course of the Jinsha River contains the richest hydro-energy resource,and therefore,4 mammoth hydropower plants are under construction on this particular section of the river at Wudongde,Baihetan,Xiluodu,and Xiangjiaba.The water-blocking structures of the hydropower facilities at Wudongde,Baihetan and Xiluodu are all arch dams of around 300 m high.In view of changes in the geological conditions at the foundation of the Xiluodu dam on the riverbed after excavation started,the designs of expanding foundation surface excavation and dovetailing the dam body and foundation rock on both upstream and downstream sides were introduced,allowing the arch dam and foundation to fit each other and improving the stress conditions of the dam body and foundation.By dividing the dam body into various concrete sections,the dynamic properties of concrete were adequately adjusted to the distribution of stress in the dam body.In addition,the use of the most optimal concrete material and mixture ratio allowed thermodynamics of concrete to satisfy the requirements of the strength,durability,temperature control and crack prevention of the concrete.Moreover,rigorous temperature control measures were introduced to prevent harmful cracking,thus enhancing the integrity of the arch dam.Furthermore,sophisticated construction machinery,scientific testing methods,and sound construction techniques were employed to ensure the uniformity and reliability of concrete placement.The "Digital Dam" for the Xiluodu project,which is based on the theory of total life cycle,has supplied strong support for construction process control and decision-making.

Crucial technologies in the design of Xiluodu Super High Arch Dam

Some super high arch dams （ SHADs）, like Xiluodu Arch Dam, after their heights reaching the magnitude of 300 m, confront lots of technical challenges in design and construction. Several crucial technologies of 6 SHADs will be reviewed and discussed in this and consecutive papers, including Xiluodu, Jinping I in China, Baktiary in Iran, ete. , on the topics of the research method, criterion for evaluation and engineering application of dam safety analysis and evaluation, reasonable dam base interface, dam shape optimization, comprehensive treatments of complex foundation, anti-seismic engineering, dam construction material, concrete placement and temperature control, instrumentation and monitoring of dam operation, etc. This paper will mainly focus on the overall safety of SHADs, reasonable dam base interface analysis and evaluation and their engineering application.

Seismic response analysis of arch dam-water-rock foundation systems

The effect of water compressibility on the seismic responses of arch dams is not well understood.In this paper,a numerical model is developed with rigorous representation of the dynamic interaction between arch dam-water- rock foundation.The model is applied to the seismic response analysis of an arch dam with a height of 292m designed to a seismic intensity of IX.It is shown that consideration of the water compressibility clearly decreases the stress responses at key positions of the dam,while the added mass model gives a conservative estimate.

Safety evaluation of replacement reinforcement quality in abutment contact zones of ultra-high arch dam in first impoundment period based on prototype monitoring

Reinforcement quality evaluation at the abutment is an important research direction. Prototype monitoring and theoretical derivation were integrated to study the replacement reinforcement quality in abutment contact zones of the Xiaowan ultra-high arch dam. The principles of monitoring layout and design are introduced in detail. Prototype monitoring shows that the increment of the interfacial compressive stress is much larger in the impoundment stage than in the regulating stage. The water pressure and time-effect are two main factors affeeting the interfacial stress. The time-effect is the key factor in the initial impoundment stage, and the water pressure is the key factor after impoundment. The contact properties are significantly improved by grouting. This study shows that there are three typical stages in the joint opening hydrographs, namely the compression stage, opening stage, and stable stage. There is a nonlinear relationship between the joint opening and temperature, which can be well described by the S-function. In conclusion, the reinforcement effect is satisfying, and the abutment is safe.

Influence of seismic input on response of Baihetan arch dam

The dynamic responses of the arch dam including dam-foundation-storage capacity of water system,using two different earthquake input models,i.e.viscous-spring artificial boundary(AB)condition and massless foundation(MF),were studied and analyzed for the 269 m high Baihetan arch dam under construction in China.By using different input models,the stress and opening of contraction joints(OCJs)of arch dam under strong shock were taken into consideration.The results show that the earthquake input models have slight influence on the responses including earthquake stresses and openings of contraction joints in different extents.

Seismic safety of high concrete dams

China is a country of high seismicity with many hydropower resources. Recently,a series of high arch dams have either been completed or are being constructed in seismic regions,of which most are concrete dams. The evaluation of seismic safety often becomes a critical problem in dam design. In this paper,a brief introduction to major progress in the research on seismic aspects of large concrete dams,conducted mainly at the Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research(IWHR) during the past 60 years,is presented. The dam site-specific ground motion input,improved response analysis,dynamic model test verification,field experiment investigations,dynamic behavior of dam concrete,and seismic monitoring and observation are described. Methods to prevent collapse of high concrete dams under maximum credible earthquakes are discussed.

Study on real working performance and overload safety factor of high arch dam

Considering the fact that high arch dams have problems such as complicated stress,high cost,and hazards after being damaged,this paper intends to study the effects of load,material strength,and safety analysis method on dam safety and working performance of arch dams.In this article,the effects of temperature,self weight exaction way and water loading on structure response are first discussed,and a more reasonable way of considering is then put forward.By taking into consideration the mechanical property of materials and comparing the effects of different yield criteria on overloading safety of high arch dams,this paper concludes that brittle characteristics of concrete should be fully considered when conducting safety assessment for high arch dams to avoid overestimating the bearing capacity of the dams.By comparing several typical projects,this paper works out a safety assessment system of multiple safety and relevant engineering analogical analysis methods,which is closer to the actual situation,and thus is able to assess the response of high arch dam structure in a more comprehensive way,elicit the safety coefficients in different situations,and provide a new way of considering the safety assessment of high arch dams.

Theory and methods of global stability analysis for high arch dam

The global stability of high arch dam is one of the key problems in the safety study of arch dams,but no feasible method with theoretical basis is available.In this paper,based on the stability theory of mechanical system,it is demonstrated that the global failure of high arch dams belongs to a physical instability starting from local strength failure,which is the extreme point instability according to the characteristics of load-displacement curve obtained from the failure process of dam-foundation system. So the global failure of dam-foundation system should be studied with the stability theory of mechanical system.It is also pointed out that the current stability analysis methods used in engineering are consistent with the stability theory,but not established according to the mechanical system stability theory directly.A perfect method can be obtained through the study of physical disturbance equations.

Study on multi-scheme analysis and evaluation method for concrete sequence placement of high arch dam

A complete scheme for solving the key scientific problems of how to make concrete sequence placement scheme of high arch dam reasonable and feasible and how to meet the need of construction process was presented.First,based on a coupling analysis of concrete sequence placement system of high arch dam,a mathematical model considering complex construction constraints was established.Second,a multi-scheme computational analysis method for concrete sequence placement of high arch dam was proposed based on dynamic simulation.Third,a multi-scheme evaluation method for concrete sequence placement was put forward based on analytic hierarchy process.Fourth,feedback guidance for progress control and management in the high arch dam construction process was proposed.Finally,these methods were applied to a practical project to show that the methods can analyze and evaluate multi-scheme for concrete sequence placement of high arch dam effectively,optimize the process of dam concrete sequence placement,and recommend engineering measures.These methods provide new theoretical principles and technical measures for real-time progress control in the high arch dam construction.

THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE FLARING GATE PIER ON THE SURFACE SPILLWAY IN A HIGH-ARCH DAM

The experimental studies of the flaring gate pier applied on the surface spillway in a high-arch dam show that a shock-wave will appear when the pattern of the flow is kept as super-critical. Meanwhile, the water depth at the outlet increases significantly, the flow moves downward in different directions, and the plunging jet is in a narrow and long shape, with a full longitudinal diffusion. In addition, the variation of the flaring gate pier design parameters affects little the discharge capacity of the surface spillway, these parameters including the contraction ratio fl, the contraction angle c~ and the spillway chute angle O. The pressure on the bottom of the spillway increases along the way and reaches the maximum before the outlet, and then decreases rapidly. Due to the flow impacting, the pressure on both sidewalls increases abruptly at the turning line of the flaring gate pier. To see the characteristics of the flow in the flaring gate pier, a simple calculation method is suggested based on the conversation of energy and mass, and the calculation methods for the jet trajectory and the horizontal length in air are also proposed. The results are found in good agreement with experimental data.

Deformation reinforcement theory and its application to high arch dams

In this paper,the deformation reinforcement theory(DRT) proposed by the authors is elaborated with a new definition of instability that an elasto-plastic structure is not stable if it cannot satisfy simultaneously equilibrium condition,kinematical admissibility and constitutive equations under the prescribed loading.Starting from the definition,a proof is established to the principle of minimum plastic complementary energy for failured structures.It is revealed that the principle of mini-mum plastic complementary energy results in relaxed constitutive equations,especially,yield conditions.It is demonstrated with case studies that many key issues in arch dam design,e.g.,global stability,dam-toe reinforcement,dam-toe cracking,dam-abut-ment reinforcement,can be well solved within the framework of the deformation reinforcement theory.The structural global stability can be described by the curve of the plastic complementary energy vs overloading factor.The unbalanced-forces obtained by elasto-plastic FEM can be used as the basis of analysis of global stability,dam-heel cracking,dam-toe anchorage and reinforcement of faults of high arch dams and their foundations.

FLOOD DISCHARGE AND ENERGY DISSIPATION BY JETS FROM OUTLETS IN HIGH ARCH DAM

In this thesis, the scale effect by an aerated water jet diffusing in the water upon the hydrodynamic pressure, the local riverbed scour by multiple layered jets and by those colliding in the vertical and the transverse directions, and the stability of the apron slab both in the inverted arch cushion pool and the flat bottom one by the large discharge and the high water head with 300m level are detailedly researched by means of model test and numerical simulation. A mathematic model simulating the destabilization of the flat bottomed slab is established to open out the mechanism of its stability. Both experimental researches both on the hydrodynamic pressure acted inside joints between the bedrock and the apron slab, and on forces at arch abutments in inverted arch cushion pool are carried out by using an advanced measurement and the imitation means to acquire the mechanism of the inverted arch pool to keep stability and its stability condition.

Simulation of influence of multi-defects on long-term working performance of high arch dam

As an integrated structure,an arch dam is assumed to bear loads in its design consideration.However,multi-defects,such as cracks and the opening of transverse joints,are unavoidable during construction and operation.Multi-defects will reduce the structural integrity and stiffness of the dam and affect its working performance and degree of safety.In the current paper,a numerical model of defects and a simulation method of a high arch dam are introduced.The Chencun arch dam is analyzed as a case study.An entire course simulation analysis of the Chencun arch dam from construction to operation is carried out,through which the opening of the transverse and longitudinal joints,formation of cracks,and their influence on deformation and stress of the dam are studied.According to the results of the analysis,appropriate measures should be adopted to prevent the development of cracks,and observation should be strengthened for a more timely discovery of risks.