An improved hypoplastic constitutive model of rockfill considering effect of stress path

An incrementally nonlinear hypoplastic constitutive model was introduced, which was developed without recourse to the concepts in elastoplasticity theory such as yield surface, plastic potential and the decomposition of the deformation into elastic and plastic parts. Triaxial drained tests on rockfill were conducted on a large scale triaxial apparatus under two types of stress paths, which were the stress paths of constant stress ratio and the complex stress paths with transitional features. Motivated by the effect of stress path, the Gudehus-Bauer hypoplastic model was improved by considering the parameter variations with different ratios of stress increment. Fitting parameter a presents a piecewise linear relationship with cosine of the slope angle θ determined by instantaneous stress path. The improved hypoplastic model can present peak stress increasing and volumetric strain changing from dilatancy to contractancy with the increase of transitional confining pressure σ3t and the decrease of slope angle θ of stress path. Compared with the test data, it is shown that the model is capable of fully considering the effect of stress path on rockfill.

Recent advances in high slope reinforcement in China: Case studies

This paper reviews a number of engineering technologies and workmanships for addressing the challenging issues concerning possible landslides in large-scale slope reinforcement projects in China.It includes:(1) the multi-point anchored piles with a depth of 64 m in the Jietai Temple rehabilitation project,(2) soil nailing strengthened by driven pipe grouting technique covering an area of530 m × 100 m(length × height) in the Xiluodu hydropower project,(3) the cantilever piles extending vertically from the slope toe to stabilize a 300 m high slope at the Xiaowan hydropower station,(4) a new and simple workmanship for building a pile with cross-sectional area of 20 m × 5 m in the Hongjiadu hydropower station,and(5) comprehensive reinforcement scheme proposed for excavation of a 530 m high slope in Jinping I hydropower station.These new technologies can provide valuable experiences for reinforcement of high slopes of similar projects in China and other regions and countries with similar geological conditions.

Life Loss Estimation Based on Dam-Break Flood Uncertainties and Lack of Information in Mountainous Regions of Western China

Compared with urban floods, dam-break floods are associated with greater uncertainties, including variable dam-break modes and hydrological characteristics, so conventional flood estimation methods cannot be directly applied in the estimation of dam-break flood loss. In particular, there is scant information regarding the conditions of affected area and hydrological characteristics in southwest China. In this paper, we introduce an integrated model for estimating flood loss that is adapted to the mountainous regions of southwestern China in light of the relative lack of available information. This model has three major components: a basic information model, a dam-routed flood propagation simulation model, and a loss estimation model. We established the basic information model despite the relative lack of available information using 3S technology [remote sensing (RS); geographical information system (GIS); global positioning system (GPS)], data mining technology, and statistical analysis techniques. Our dam-routed flood propagation simulation model consists of major hydrologic processes and their governing equations for flow propagation, which we solve using finite-difference schemes. In this model, the flood propagation area is divided into grids and each grid is determined by the characteristic parameters obtained from the propagation simulation. We present a case study of the Lianghekou hydropower station in Sichuan Province, China to illustrate the practical application of this integrated model for life loss estimation. © 2017, Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Short-term power generation scheduling rules for cascade hydropower stations based on hybrid algorithm

Power generation dispatching is a large complex system problem with multi-dimensional and nonlinear characteristics. A mathematical model was established based on the principle of reservoir operation. A large quantity of optimal scheduling processes were obtained by calculating the daily runoff process within three typical years, and a large number of simulated daily runoff processes were obtained using the progressive optimality algorithm （POA） in combination with the genetic algorithm （GA）. After analyzing the optimal scheduling processes, the corresponding scheduling rules were determined, and the practical formulas were obtained. These rules can make full use of the rolling runoff forecast and carry out the rolling scheduling. Compared with the optimized results, the maximum relative difference of the annual power generation obtained by the scheduling rules is no more than 1%. The effectiveness and practical applicability of the scheduling rules are demonstrated by a case study. This study provides a new perspective for formulating the rules of power generation dispatching.

Numerical Prediction and Analysis of Hydraulic Characteristics of Waterfall Scene for Application to Design Control

The hydraulic characteristics of artificial waterfalls constitute an important research area for both academia and industry. As yet, the hydraulic parameters used in the hydraulic design of landscape waterfalls are not well understood for use in qualitative and quantitative analyses. Due to their complicated shapes and appearances, it remains a challenging problem to design or simulate realistic waterfall scenes. In this paper, we present a hybrid model and an efficient numerical method for simulating the hydraulic characteristics of waterfalls and investigate the critical flow in waterfall design and the adherent flow phenomenon. We fit empirical equations to predict the size and shape of different waterfall flow patterns to provide a basis for the design and construction of waterscapes in the real world. We then apply our work to an artificial waterfall in Kraal Jiang River and the results demonstrate that our model achieves desirable control qualities and good agreement in a real-world application. © 2017, Tianjin University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Study on life-cycle risk management of high earth-rock dam project

Based on advanced computer technology, internet of things （lOT） technology, project management con- cept and professional technology and combined with the innovative theories, methods and techniques in earlier hy- dropower projects, the life-cycle risk management system of high earth-rock dam project for Nuozhadu project was developed. The system mainly includes digital dam, three-dimensional design, construction quality monito- ring, safety assessment and warning, etc, to integrally manage and analyze the dam design, constructional quality and safety monitoring information. It realized the dynamic updates of the comprehensive information and the safe- ty quality monitoring in the project life cycle, and provided the basic platform for the scientific management of the construction and operation safety of high earth-rock dam. Application in Nuozhadu earth-rock dam showed that construction safety monitoring and warning greatly helped accelerate the construction progress and improve project quality, and provided a new way for the quality safety control of high earth-rock dam.

Evaluation of cracking potential for concrete arch dam based on simulation feedback analysis

It is still very difficult for researchers and engineers to implement the simulation analysis including a complete process and a full model with the complicated arch dam and the foundation, and to evaluate the cracking potential in the construction and service periods. To take Xiaowan project of China for an example, a practical system of simulation feedback analysis, a specific cracking criterion, and a resolution for the conflicting requirements of temperature and stress/strain simulation are presented, which are put into a successful practice. The simulation results of temperature, stress, and cracking are identical well with the monitor data. A modified temperature control measure is propounded, and the significant effect is gained by adopting the new scheme.

Stability analysis of the temperature cracks in Xiaowan arch dam

In the Xiaowan arch dam there are massive temperature cracks nearly parallel to the dam axis. Obviously, whether the cracks may spread or not during the water storage process is one of the crucial factors for the safety of a dam. In this paper, a new type of crack element, in which the contact component is implicitly included into the concrete component, is proposed to simulate the effects of the existing cracks. The crack element is proved by numerical example to share the merits of both conventional contact elements and joint elements. With a finite element model of the cracked arch dam together with its rock foundation established, the transient displacement and stress fields of the dam are obtained. The complicated rock foundation, the construction process of the arch dam, the massive cracks, the transient temperature field, as well as the water storage process have been taken into consideration in the simulation. In addition to the global model, several sub-models for typical crack tips are also generated with finer elements placed around the tips. Thus, more accurate displacement and stress distribution are obtained by simultaneous sub-model simulation. Based on the calculation of stress intensity factor for crack tips by extension method, the temperature cracks in the Xiaowan arch dam are finally proved to be stable.