Prototype observation and influencing factors of environmental vibrationinduced by flood discharge

Due to a wide range of field vibration problems caused by flood discharge at the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station, vibration characteristics and influencing factors were investigated based on prototype observation. The results indicate that field vibrations caused by flood discharge have distinctive characteristics of constancy, low frequency, small amplitude, and randomness with impact, which significantly differ from the common high-frequency vibration characteristics. Field vibrations have a main frequency of about 0.5-3.0 Hz and the characteristics of long propagation distance and large-scale impact. The vibration of a stilling basin slab runs mainly in the vertical direction. The vibration response of the guide wall perpendicular to the flow is significantly stronger than it is in other directions and decreases linearly downstream along the guide wall. The vibration response of the underground turbine floor is mainly caused by the load of unit operation. Urban environmental vibration has particular distribution characteristics and change patterns, and is greatly affected by discharge, scheduling modes, and geological conditions. Along with the increase of the height of residential buildings, vibration responses show a significant amplification effect. The horizontal and vertical vibrations of the 7th floor are, respectively, about 6 times and 1.5 times stronger than the corresponding vibrations of the 1st floor. The vibration of a large-scale chemical plant presents the combined action of flood discharge and working machines. Meanwhile, it is very difficult to reduce the low-frequency environmental vibrations. Optimization of the discharge scheduling mode is one of the effective measures of reducing the flow impact loads at present. Choosing reasonable dam sites is crucial.

Generation of 3D random meso-structure of soil-rock mixture and its meso-structural mechanics based on numerical tests

The mesoscopic failure mechanism and the macro-mechanical characteristics of soil-rock mixture(S-RM) under external load are largely controlled by S-RM's meso-structural features. The objective of this work is to improve the three-dimensional technology for the generation of the random meso-structural models of S-RM, for randomly generating irregular rock blocks in S-RM with different shapes, sizes, and distributions according to the characteristics of the rock blocks' size distribution. Based on the new improved technology, a software system named as R-SRM3 D for generation and visualization of S-RM is developed. Using R-SRM3 D, a three-dimensional meso-structural model of S-RM is generated and used to study the meso-mechanical behavior through a series of true-triaxial numerical tests. From the numerical tests, the following conclusions are obtained. The meso-stress field of S-RM is influenced by the distribution of the internal rock blocks, and the macro-mechanical characteristics of S-RM are anisotropic in 3D; the intermediate principal stress and the soil-rock interface properties have significant influence on the macro strength of S-RM.

Numerical analysis of soil-rock mixture's meso-mechanics based on biaxial test

Soil-rock mixture(S-RM)is a widely distributed geotechnical medium composed of "soil" and "rock block" different both in size and strength. Internal rock blocks form special and variable meso-structural characteristics of S-RM. The objective of this work was to study the control mechanism of meso-structural characteristics on mechanical properties of S-RM. For S-RM containing randomly generated polygonal rock blocks, a series of biaxial tests based on DEM were conducted. On the basis of research on the effects of rock blocks' breakability and sample lateral boundary type(rigid, flexible) on macroscopic mechanical behavior of S-RM, an expanded Mohr-Coulomb criterion in power function form was proposed to represent the strength envelop. At the mesoscopic level, the variations of meso-structure such as rotation of rock block, and the formation mechanism and evolution process of the shear band during tests were investigated. The results show that for S-RM with a high content of rock block, translation, rotating and breakage of rock blocks have crucial effects on mechanical behavior of S-RM. The formation and location of the shear band inside S-RM sample are also controlled by breakability and arrangement of rock blocks.

Study on the particle breakage of ballast based on a GPU accelerated discrete element method

Breakage of particles will have greatly influence on mechanical behavior of granular material(GM)under external loads,such as ballast,rockfill and sand.The discrete element method(DEM)is one of the most popular methods for simulating GM as each particle is represented on its own.To study breakage mechanism of particle breakage,a cohesive contact mode is developed based on the GPU accelerated DEM code-Blaze-DEM.A database of the 3D geometry model of rock blocks is established based on the 3D scanning method.And an agglomerate describing the rock block with a series of non-overlapping spherical particles is used to build the DEM numerical model of a railway ballast sample,which is used to the DEM oedometric test to study the particles’breakage characteristics of the sample under external load.Furthermore,to obtain the meso-mechanical parameters used in DEM,a black-analysis method is used based on the laboratory tests of the rock sample.Based on the DEM numerical tests,the particle breakage process and mechanisms of the railway ballast are studied.All results show that the developed code can better used for large scale simulation of the particle breakage analysis of granular material.

Optimal dosing time of acid algaecide for restraining algal growth

Restraining algal growth by algaecide has been studied by many researchers, but the dosing time has not yet been studied. In this study, we examined the appropriate dosing time of algaecide through a series of experiments. In the experiments, the pH value of water is significantly affected by Microcystis aeruginosa, and the variation of the pH value is in favor of the growth of the alga. Therefore, using acid algaecide in the period with maximum pH values, i.e., the stable phase, would change the acidity-alkalinity of the water significantly, and would negatively affect algal growth. Acid algaecide does not eliminate the alga effectively if the acid algaecide is dosed in the logarithmic growth phase. Using acid algaecide in the decline phase after algal bloom not only is unfavorable for eliminating the alga, but also prolongs the decline phase, and even brings about next larger algal bloom.

珊瑚砂与结构面间相互作用的力学响应

基于接触面剪切试验,本文研究了珊瑚砂与不同结构面间相互作用的宏观和细观力学行为。试验中采用CCD相机捕获数字图像以分析接触带的演化,同时应用粒子分析仪研究试验前后颗粒形态分布特征。基于剪切应力−应变曲线,本研究提出了剪切过程中的四个演化阶段。在剪切过程中,试样剪切应力和垂直位移的变化是由于珊瑚砂在接触带内发生滑动和旋转而产生的;此外,结构表面粗糙度对剪切强度,体积变化及颗粒破碎的影响结果表明,结构面的粗糙度越大,峰值剪应力越高,体积收缩效越明显,颗粒破碎越显著。在破裂过程中,颗粒三维特征不仅发生尺寸变化,同时颗粒形态也表现为均一化和自组织变化。

Dam Breach Analysis Using HEC-RAS and HEC-GeoRAS: The Case of Kesem Kebena Dam

Ethiopia has been booming with active construction of dams within the past few decades for different infrastructural needs, but has never experienced demolition or failure of dams in its history;hence little attention is being given to possible breach scenarios of dams and the resulting floodings. This paper makes analysis of the possible breach of kesem dam and the resulting flood inundation. In this study, the dam has been checked for both overtopping and piping failure modes using one dimensional river analysis model called HEC-RAS. Empirical equations were used to predict dam breach parameters of the two failure modes for use in this model. PMF inflow with a peak 9237.77 m3/s is used as an input to the reservoir to check if overtopping failure was possible. The spill way has proven to have adequate capacity for the flood due to the PMF. Therefore, breaching of the embankment was not possible. Piping failure was also simulated in HEC-RAS and the resulting breach due to piping failure, was analyzed and flood hydrograph was obtained at different cross sections along the river. These are flood hydrographs at 20 km, 40 km and 60 km at the downstream. The resulting flood plain was also mapped using HEC-GeoRas to show the extent of flooding.

The physical simulation of wave groups and their variations in a wave flume

The physical simulation method of wave groups in a wave flume is proposed and verified by the exper- iments. The experimental results demonstrate that random waves with desired wave groupiness, which simultaneously includes the wave group height and length, can be generated satisfactorily at the specified position in a wave flume using the proposed method. Furthermore, the transformation properties of the wave groupiness along the fiat-bottomed wave flume are investigated based on the physically simulated waves. Associated proposals with the physical simulation of wave groups are given.

Groundwater Potential Assessment and Characterization of Genale-Dawa River Basin

Genale-Dawa River Basin is one of the largest and most drought prone re-gions in Ethiopia. As a result a search for alternative source of water has always been a major issue in the region. This study therefore, aims at characterizing and evaluating the ground water potential resource of the river basin. The delineation and numerical discretization of the river basin were primarily done for the proper development of the problem domain. And the groundwater governing equation was solved at individual nodal points of the discretized region using a 3-D numerical ground water model called TAGSAC. This resulted in monthly average groundwater table fluctuation and replenishable ground water potential estimation. Hydrogeological classification was also done based on hydraulic conductivity values obtained from model calibration.

PIV measurement on internal instantaneous flows of a centrifugal pump

In this paper,the internal flow field in a centrifugal pump working at the design flow rate operating condition has been measured using the particle image velocimetry(PIV)technique with the fluorescent particles and the index-matched fluid technology.The index-marching fluid with the same refractive index as the transparent material has been prepared and applied in the present test of pump with geometrical complex walls.The comparison between velocity distributions of PIV results both with and without fluorescent particles,as well as with and without index-marching fluid are conducted to find the differences.The DES(Detached Eddy Simulation)has been employed to calculate the three-dimensional unsteady turbulent flow in the pump to examine and to certify the PIV measurement results.The DES results of instantaneous flow velocity fields agree with PIV test results with fluorescent particles and index-marching fluid.It is necessary to perform the PIV measurement of pumps with fluorescent seeds and index-marching fluid in order to get exact results.The experimental results show the distributions of velocity,steamlines,and the principal Reynolds normal stress(PRNS)and the principal Reynolds shear stress(PRSS).

LES NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF CAVITATION BUBBLE SHEDDING ON ALE 25 AND ALE 15 HYDROFOILS

A cavitation calculation scheme is developed and applied to ALE 15 and ALE 25 hydrofoils, based on the Bubble Two-phase Flow （BTF） cavity model with a Large Eddy Simulation （LES） methodology. The Navier-Stokes equations including cavitation bubble clusters are solved through the finite-volume approach with a time-marching scheme. Simulations are carried out in a 3-D field with a hydrofoil ALE 15 or ALE 25 at an angle of attack of 8^0 and cavitation number σ = 2.3 with α 2× 10^6, meshing system. With the time-marching, the cavitation bubble gradually grows to a steady lump shape and then produces an irregular small bubble behind the main cavitation bubble, finally shedding from the leading edge of the cloud cavitation structure. The calculated results including velocity field and pressure field are consistent with experiment data at the same Reynolds number and cavitation number. The vortex and reverse flow are observed on the hydrofoil surface.

Influence of water content and shear rate on the mechanical behavior of soil-rock mixtures

Soil-rock mixtures(S-RMs) are widely distributed in the nature. The mesoscopic deformation and failure mechanisms as well as the macro-mechanical behaviors of the S-RMs depend largely upon the rate of deformation, water content and particle sizes. In this research, a series of large-scale direct shear tests with different water contents and different grain-size distributions were conducted to study the influence of the aforementioned factors on the mechanical properties of the S-RMs. Due to the effect of the rock blocks' breakage in the S-RMs, the relationship between the shear strength and the vertical stress of S-RM follows a power law instead of a linear one. It is found that there exists a threshold value for the vertical stress during the shearing process,below which the soil strength is mainly determined by the inter-locking of particles and the re-arrangement of meso-structure,and otherwise large-sized rock blocks are gradually broken into smaller fragments, resulting in a decrease in the soil strength.The shear rate can also significantly influence the degree of particle breakage and the meso-structural rearrangement of the SRMs, namely, under low shear rate, the particles of the samples are fully broken resulting in enhanced macro-strength. As a result, the lower the shear rate, the higher the macroscopic strength. So under unsaturated conditions, the water content will affect the strength of the S-RMs by reducing the strength of rock blocks. As the water content increases, the soil strength decreases gradually, and assumes a moderate value when the water content reaches 8%. At the same water content, the soil strength increases with the sizes of large rock blocks. For the occlusion, breakage and structure re-arrangement of the oversized rock blocks inside S-RM, which have a huge influence on the mechanical characteristics of the samples.

Transient Flow in Rapidly Filling Air-Entrapped Pipelines with Moving Boundaries

A mathematical model is presented for transient flow in a rapidly filling pipeline with an entrapped air pocket. The influence of transient shear stress between the pipe wall and the flowing fluid is taken into account. A coordinate transformation technique is employed to generate adaptive moving meshes for the multiphase flow system as images of the time-independent computational meshes in auxiliary domains. The method of characteristics is used to reduce the coupled nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations governing the motion of the filling fluid, entrapped air, and blocking fluid to ordinary differential equations. Numerical solution of resulting equations shows that the transient shear stresses have only a small damping effect on the pressure fluctuations. The peak pressure in the entrapped air pocket decreases significantly with increasing initial entrapped air volume, but decreases slightly with increasing initial entrapped air pressure.

Application of Method-of-Lines to Charging-Up Process in Pipelines with Entrapped Air

A mathematical model is presented for the charging-up process in an air-entrapped pipeline with moving boundary conditions. A coordinate transformation technique is employed to reduce fluid motion in time-dependent domains to ones in time-independent domains. The nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations governing the unsteady motion of fluid combined with an equation for transient shear stress between the pipe wall and the flowing fluid are solved by the method of lines. Results show that ignoring elastic effects overestimates the maximum pressure and underestimates the maximum front velocity of filling fluid. The peak pressure of the entrapped air is sensitive to the length of the initial entrapped air pocket.

Study on meso-mechanical behavior of sand based on its 2D geometrical model

A comprehensive study on the meso-mechanical behaviors of sand with its 2D geometrical models was presented in this study.Based on the 2D geometrical models,database of sand particles,quantitative analysis on the geometrical characteristics of the studied sand particles was performed.A new clump generation algorithm based on fewer multiple overlapping circles was provided to accurately model the shape of sand particles,and was used to build the discrete element method(DEM)numerical model of the sand sample for DEM biaxial tests.The macro-and meso-mechanical behaviors of the studied sand samples were systematically analyzed.Deformation was mainly localized in a X-shaped shear zone,in which the particles experienced large displacements and rotations.Development of stress-induced anisotropy in particle and void orientations,as well as the mesoscopic fabric,was significant during the shearing process.Continuous collapse,generation,reduction,and extension of force chains occurred during the shearing process,especially after the peak stress was reached.This led to the fluctuations in the evolution of deviatoric stress and volumetric strain at macroscale,as well as the fabric anisotropy at mesoscale.

LEM-DEM coupling for slope stability analysis

Slope stability analysis is a keen area of interest to researchers of geotechnical engineering and geological hazards. To date, the most popular approach applied in slope engineering design is the limit equilibrium method(LEM). However, for this method,some assumptions are required when obtaining the sliding force and the resistance force on the slide face. The discrete element method(DEM) presents an advantage in the calculation of the interaction forces between adjacent blocks without assumptions.This paper introduces a new slope stability analysis based on coupling of both approaches, herein referred to as LEM-DEM. The main LEM-DEM procedure is to transform the slice model of a slope in LEM into the DEM model and obtain the sliding force and the resistance force to calculate the factor of stability(Fos). The sensitivity analysis of the parameters in DEM, such as normal and shear stiffness, was conducted to illustrate that LEM-DEM suggests higher contact stiffness. A comparison between the Fos values in DEM and LEM-DEM was also conducted to indicate the rationality and advantages of LEM-DEM, especially for a gentle slope with a changing shear force direction in the slice model where the interslice forces in LEM are unreasonable.Furthermore, this study carried out a 3 D landslide stability analysis extension, along with the results, for the proposed method.

HIGH-SPEED FLOW EROSION ON A NEW ROLLER COMPACTED CONCRETE DAM DURING CONSTRUCTION

A new roller compacted concrete dam of Fengman Hydropower Station is to be built in the toe of the old dam,which was identified as a dangerous dam.The new dam during construction would be influenced by the high-speed flow discharged from the old dam,which is an important problem to be considered for the first time in China,and which would affect the construction of the whole project.Therefore,a series of erosion experiments were conducted in this article.A high-speed flow erosion test apparatus was developed for the erosion experiments of the new dam materials.The maximum jet velocity goes up to 40 m/s and the section area of the nozzle is 0.0025 m2.In the process of experiments,the equipment shows a good performance.Erosive wear tests for two types of materials used in the new dam,a roller compacted concrete and a distorted concrete with four kinds of ages were carried out with the flow velocity in the range of 30 m/s-35 m/s.Erosion parameters and erosion laws for the two types of concretes with different ages were determined,and a general relationship between the erosion rate and the flow velocity is obtained as：,with the velocity exponent between 3.33 and 3.93.It is concluded that the erosion resistance of the distorted concrete is better than that of the roller compacted concrete and the mechanical properties of the concretes of over 14 d age are influenced slightly by the water impact.The test results might serve as a practical technique guide for the safety of this project during its construction in the flood season.

Experimental study of anti-cavitation mechanism of valve lintel natural aeration of high head lock

To study the serious valve top gap cavitation of Datengxia high head single-lift ship lock,the 1:1 scale slice experiment is carried out,to truly reveal the gap flow characteristics,as well as the valve top gap cavitation characteristics and the anti-cavitation mechanism of natural aeration.Three kinds of cavitation,namely,the throat cavitation,the mainstream inner cavitation,and the valve plate cavitation,are determined and they are found to occur step-by-step in the gap section in the development of the cavitation.According to the anti-cavitation mechanism of the natural aeration,the pressure of the gap flow through the ventilation is increased,to avoid the mainstream inner cavitation and the valve plate cavitation,and to weaken the throat cavitation.The negative pressure zone in the gap section gradually extends with the development of the cavitation until the gap section is filled with a stable−10 m water head.When the natural aeration measure is employed,the pressure in the gap section approximately reaches the−2 m water head,and the cavitation disappears.The systematic tests reveal the quadratic polynomial relationship between the pressure in the gap and the ventilation per meter width.The pressure,which corresponds to the maximum value of the ventilation at the beginning of the gap,approximately reaches the−2 m water head,and the pressure and the ventilation reach the equilibrium state limit.When the pressure in the gap increases when the valve is opened,the ventilation gradually decreases until the natural aeration stops.The gap section length for the high head valves has a great effect on the natural aeration and should be long enough to maintain the stable negative pressure in the gap,whereas the throat width has a minimal effect.Results can be used for the anti-cavitation design of the high head lock valve.