Effect of the impounding process on the overall stability of a high arch dam: a case study of the Xiluodu dam, China

Luo, Danni; Lin, Peng; Li, Qingbin; Zheng, Dong; Liu, Hongyuan

doi:10.1007/s12517-015-1868-6

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Several arch dams were squeezed to crack by the valley narrowing deformation, such as the Beauregard arch dam in northwestern Italy [1] and Zeuzier arch dam in Switzerland [2]. In China, the same kind of deformation has also been reported at the Lijiaxia project [3], Jinping-I project [4], Xiluodu project [5], and several other high arch dams since their initial impoundments. It is a key step to figure out the valley narrowing mechanism to assess the structural safety of a certain dam [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Valley Narrowing Deformation of High Arch Dam: A Case Study of the Xiluodu Project in China

Yin

et al. 2020

Applied Sciences

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General studies examining reservoir bank deformation during its impoundment primarily consider the coupling effect between the seepage field and the stress field, but thermal field variation in the bedrock and its effect are rarely considered. In this paper, a case study concerning a 285.5 m high arch dam project, where a valley narrowing deformation occurs after the initial impoundment, is implemented. An analysis of in situ measurement is given to interpret the causes of the unique hydro-thermal phenomenon of the project. Possible reasons for the valley narrowing deformation pattern are discussed. A numerical model based on the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) coupling theory of porous medium is used to calculate the evolution processes of the thermal, seepage, and stress fields of the area after impoundment of the reservoir. The simulated deformation trend and pattern of the river valley are consistent with the monitoring data. The results demonstrate that water infiltration after impounding cools the bedrock and the temperature decrease makes the bedrock contract, which induces the narrowing deformation of the valley. Factor analysis of the hydrothermal field shows that temperature variation is the main cause of long-term deformation. Thus, it shall be considered as a key factor in terms of structural safety assessment. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis of the hydraulic conductivities of rock strata suggests that future development of the deformation can be eased off if the anti-seepage method is adopted on the bedrock.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Valley Narrowing Deformation of High Arch Dam: A Case Study of the Xiluodu Project in China

Yin

et al. 2020

Applied Sciences

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“…Lin et al [18] identified and compared the dam stress characteristics and deformation distribution of the Xiaowan Dam based on four 3D geomechanical model tests. Luo et al [19] studied the effect of the first filling process on the overall stability of the Xiluodu Dam via field monitoring and numerical modeling methods. Wu et al [2] used monitoring data analysis and numerical calculation to analyze the working behavior of the Jinping-I Dam during the initial impoundment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress Prediction Model of Super-High Arch Dams during Their Initial Operation Stages

Cheng,

Han,

2024

Water

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It is of great significance to identify the spatiotemporal stress distribution characteristics to ensure the safety of a super-high arch dam during the initial operation stage. Taking the 285.5 m-high Xiluodu Dam as an example, the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics were analyzed based on the five-year observation data after impoundment. Statistical and boosted-regression-tree-based prediction models for the dam stress were established. The boosted-regression-tree-based prediction model is more accurate than the statistical model. The monitoring indicators for the measuring points of focused locations were determined using the confidence interval estimation method. The results show that the dam was in a compression state, and the arching effect was obvious. The arch direction compressive stress gradually increased and stabilized, and the maximum appeared in the middle of the upstream face of the crown cantilever monolith. For the crown cantilever, the cantilever direction stress at the dam heel was significantly affected by the interior temperature recovery, and the arch direction stress in the middle of the upstream face was significantly affected by the reservoir water level. The measuring points of the focused locations with reliable observation data can be selected as a monitoring index to guide the initial operation.

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“…Several studies exist on cracked arch dam calculations using nonlinear finite elements in which, generally, each element can move to a cracked state (indicating the location of the crack) as a result of deformations and some formulation [8][9][10][11][12]. There are also many studies on arch dam calculations considering transverse joints between cantilevers, where each dam cantilever behaves in a linear elastic way, although the dam as a whole is nonlinear since it includes transverse construction joints that can be opened freely under friction, for which a nonlinear element is designed as a joint between the faces of the cantilevers in contact [13,14]. Some other studies compare the latter approach against a monolithic dam, where joints can never open [15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Modeling of Cracked Arch Dams. Effect of Open Joints during the Construction Phase

Conde,

Salete,

Toledo

2024

Infrastructures

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Running a numerical model for a cracked arch dam that takes into account all the particularities of the materials and dam with a high level of detail has a great computational cost involved. For this reason, it is usual to simplify such a model in search of a simpler solution while preserving the characteristic of being representative, with all the particularities that the model of an arch dam has. A common simplification lies in not considering open transverse joints in the construction phase of a cracked dam. An aim of this study is to propose a methodology that combines open joints and cracking, something on which, to the authors’ knowledge, no studies have been published. An additional goal is a study of the need and adequacy of different approaches on performance (computational time) and its consequences for model accuracy. For this purpose, an accurate methodology for a stationary finite element method numerical simulation of deformations in cracked arch dams is presented. Using a tetrahedron mesh of a real dam, different simplifications commonly used in numerical models are compared. It is concluded that some of the standard simplifications produce a significant effect on the computation time and accuracy of the results.

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Effect of the impounding process on the overall stability of a high arch dam: a case study of the Xiluodu dam, China

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Valley Narrowing Deformation of High Arch Dam: A Case Study of the Xiluodu Project in China

Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Valley Narrowing Deformation of High Arch Dam: A Case Study of the Xiluodu Project in China

Stress Prediction Model of Super-High Arch Dams during Their Initial Operation Stages

Numerical Modeling of Cracked Arch Dams. Effect of Open Joints during the Construction Phase

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