Analysis of the annual thermal response of an earth dam for the assessment of the hydraulic conductivity of its compacted till core

Smith, Marc; Konrad, Jean‐Marie

doi:10.1139/t07-095

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…4) subtracted from the data of Smith and Konrad. 23 By attempting some simulations, it was recognized that in the short-time simulation (1 month), the effects of air and water temperature on temperature distribution inside the dam was restricted at a distance of 5 m from the dam surface (presented later), meaning that air and water temperature boundary conditions did not affect the results of the computed area. A constant heat injection rate of 820 W/m or 15 W/m was correspondingly assigned along the entire length of the standpipe or electrical wire in a 2-day period (Fig.…”

Section: Boundary Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The capacity of active heat method in evaluation of seepage

Bui

Zhou

Zhao

2017

Heat Trans. Asian Res.

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The analysis of temperature variation inside an embankment dam is known as a feasible approach for seepage estimation in an embankment dam. The time needed for temperature surveillance could be considerably reduced when it is implemented under the condition of heat injection. However, a detailed description about the method as well as its capability has not been sufficiently presented in previous research. To fill this void, a realistic scale finite-element modeling was conducted to explain and assess the abilities of the approach. A 15 m dam segment containing a suffusion layer was simulated with 11 scenarios, where it was found that the applications of temperature measurement with the complement of high-power line heat sources in standpipes could give a solution for seepage determination in a dam segment with length up to 6 m, and the combination of fiber optic sensors and electrical wires provides an ability to assess seepage in a long dam distance. It is noteworthy that the efficiency in the perpendicular plane to the fiber optic sensor and electrical wire is limited. K E Y W O R D Sheat injection, numerical simulation, seepage estimation, short-time observation, temperature measurement, temperature variation

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Section: Boundary Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The capacity of active heat method in evaluation of seepage

Bui

Zhou

Zhao

2017

Heat Trans. Asian Res.

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“…Heat carried by the seepage water along a hydraulic flow line can therefore serve as a natural tracer to help detect zones with contrasting hydraulic conductivities. More details on passive thermometry are included in Smith & Konrad (2008).…”

Section: Specific Thermal Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of uncertainties in internal erosion assessments of existing embankment dams

Smith¹

2016

Scour and Erosion

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The evaluation of a dam's susceptibility to internal erosion is fraught with difficulties related to uncertainties in relation to the in-situ geotechnical properties of materials. These uncertainties include imperfect knowledge of actual soil conditions, imperfect representation of reality by models and variability of soil properties. Experience has shown that our current capability for mathematical analysis and modelling of potential seepage patterns far exceeds our capability to make judgments of comparable accuracy concerning the geology of a dam site or, for example, how the soil properties may be affected during construction of a dam. The uncertainties about the actual performance of embankment dams are discussed in this paper and illustrated by three case histories. These examples show the influence of various types of uncertainties in internal erosion assessments as well as efficient means to reduce them.

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“…Numerical simulations have been employed in various studies to interpret the measured temperature variations within dams (e.g., Smith and Konrad 2008;Opali ński et al 2016;Song and Yosef 2017). Smith and Konrad (2008) used seasonal variations in reservoir temperature measured by point sensors along the submerged upstream face of a dam, and within the embankment dam itself, to identify a layer exhibiting elevated leakage within the compacted till core. Simulations using a 2D finite element model with coupling between heat transport and water flow indicated that the layer's hydraulic conductivity was approximately 20 times greater than that of the surrounding core.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of seepage near the interface between an embankment dam and a concrete structure: monitoring and modelling of seasonal temperature trends

Yun¹

2023

Can. Geotech. J.

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Seasonal temperature monitoring, which exploits the fact that increased seepage flow may locally alter the temperature distribution within embankment dams and their foundations, is a useful approach for leakage monitoring and evaluation. At the Mactaquac Generating Station, spatial and temporal variations of temperature have been monitored and modelled at the steeply inclined interface between the compacted clay till core of the embankment dam and an abutting concrete diversion sluiceway. Over a four-year period, two seasonally recurring anomalies at different depths were observed by fibre optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) in the concrete structure close to the interface. A 3D coupled flow and heat transport model was developed in FEFLOW to simulate temperature distribution within the dam resulting from seasonal variations in air and reservoir temperature. Leakage zones near the interface were simulated in the concrete and/or embankment. At a depth of 13 m below the crest, the significant lag time between temperature variations in the reservoir and dam core show that the leakage responsible for an observed temperature anomaly must be limited to fracture flow within the concrete. At much shallower depths, where seasonal reservoir and dam core temperatures fluctuate nearly in phase, seepage paths are more challenging to determine.

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Analysis of the annual thermal response of an earth dam for the assessment of the hydraulic conductivity of its compacted till core

Cited by 12 publications

References 12 publications

The capacity of active heat method in evaluation of seepage

The capacity of active heat method in evaluation of seepage

Influence of uncertainties in internal erosion assessments of existing embankment dams

Investigation of seepage near the interface between an embankment dam and a concrete structure: monitoring and modelling of seasonal temperature trends

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