• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.87-99
• /
• 1992

The types of dam-break have been classified as instantaneous and gradual failure. Equations for estimating the peak outflow have been derived respectively as a metric unit. New dimensionless routing curves have been deveoloped based on the distance parameter which has been used in SMPDBK and hydro-geometric characteristics of dams and reservoirs in Korea. These suggested curves can be used for any case of the flow of supercritical or subcritical. The computed peak flowrate shows the trend of decreasing dependence on the Froude numbers as it increases. These curves are applied to Hyogi dam. and the results have good agreements with the data observed in the peak discharges, peak elevations and flood travel time. The simplified dam-break model in this study would contribute effectively to forecast the dam-break flood in this country with minimum informations in a short time.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.637-651
• /
• 2022

The seismic design of embankment dams requires more comprehensive studies to understand the behaviour of dams. Deformations primarily control this behaviour occur during or after earthquake loading. Dam failures and incidents show that the impacts of deformations should be reviewed for existing and new embankment dams. Overtopping erosion failure can occur if crest deformations exceed the freeboard at the time of the deformations. Therefore, crest settlement is one of the most critical deformations. This study developed empirical formulas using Gene Expression Programming (GEP) based on 88 cases. In the analyses, dam height (H_d), alluvium thickness (H_a), the magnitude-acceleration-factor (MAF) values developed based on earthquake magnitude (Mw) and peak ground acceleration (PGA) within this study have been chosen as variables. Results show that GEP models developed in the paper are remarkably robust and accessible tools to predict earthquake-induced crest settlement of embankment dams and perform superior to the existing formulation. Also, dam engineering professionals can use them practically because the variables of prediction equations are easily accessible after the earthquake.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.285-296
• /
• 2020

Dams are important structures for management of water supply for irrigation or drinking, flood control, and electricity generation. In seismic regions, the structural safety of concrete gravity dams is important due to the high potential of life and economic loss if they fail. Therefore, the seismic analysis of existing dams in seismically active regions is crucial for predicting responses of dams to ground motions. In this paper, earthquake response of concrete gravity dams is investigated using the finite element (FE) method. The FE model accounts for dam-water-foundation rock interaction by considering compressible water, flexible foundation effects, and absorptive reservoir bottom materials. Several uncertainties regarding structural attributes of the dam and external actions are considered to obtain the fragility curves of the dam-water-foundation rock system. The structural uncertainties are sampled using the Latin Hypercube Sampling method. The Pine Flat Dam in the Central Valley of Fresno County, California, is selected to demonstrate the methodology for several limit states. The fragility curves for base sliding, and excessive deformation limit states are obtained by performing non-linear time history analyses. Tensile cracking including the complex state of stress that occurs in dams was also considered. Normal, Log-Normal and Weibull distribution types are considered as possible fits for fragility curves. It was found that the effect of the minimum principal stress on tensile strength is insignificant. It is also found that the probability of failure of tensile cracking is higher than that for base sliding of the dam. Furthermore, the loss of reservoir control is unlikely for a moderate earthquake.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.59-68
• /
• 2010

Piping, a common form of internal embankment erosion, is caused by progressive movement of soil particles through an embankment. The phenomenon commonly occurs with precursory signs of development of fractures in dam structures, but also occurs without any noticeable signs in dams that showed satisfactory dam performance for several years, due to dissolution of soluble material in an embankment. While piping accounts for nearly 50% of the causes for dam failure, few studies have been made for systematic evaluation of the phenomenon. In this study, we attempted to monitor the changes in electrical resistivities of fill-dam material while a saddle dam is dismantled for the construction of emergency spillways of Daechung dam. Two artificial subhorizontal boreholes were drilled into the embankment structure to simulate piping along the two artificial flow channels. Monitoring of changes in electrical resistivity showed an increase in resistivity values during piping. Thus, the investigation of resistivity over time could be an effective method for piping prediction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2005.03a
• /
• pp.1588-1595
• /
• 2005

In this study, the installation location of accelerometer and accelerograph for dam are investigated in the field to establish of emergency action against dam failure when earthquake occur and to guarantee the results of seismic stability of dams which are analysed with dynamic analysis method during 1999 to 2003 by KOWACO. By a comparative study concerning of domestic and foreign guidelines of seismic strong motion instrumentation for dams, "Guidelines of Seismic Strong-Motion Instrumentation Installation, Operation and Maintenance for Dams" is established to set up the standard of seismic strong-motion instrumentation for dam, are supervised by KOWACO There is some problems in taking a measure of stability of dams when earthquake event occur because the existing seismic strong motion instruments are operated independently. This make difficult to confirm the occurrence of seismic event. For that reason, in this study the plan of unified operation and maintenance system for strong-motion instrument for dams is designed. It will make possible real-time seismic monitoring, data transmission and receiving, giving warning for earthquake, and exchanging data with national seismic network.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.101-116
• /
• 2018

As one of the most important engineering structures, arch dams are huge constructions built with human hands and have strategical importance. Because of the fact that long construction duration, water supply, financial reasons, major loss of life and material since failure etc., the design of arch dams is very important problem and should be done by expert engineers to determine the structural behavior more accurately. Finite element analyses and non-destructive experimental measurements can be used to investigate the structural response, but there are some difficulties such as spending a long time while modelling, analysis and in-situ testing. Therefore, it is more useful to conduct the research on the laboratory conditions and to transform the obtained results into real constructions. Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to determine the structural behavior of arch dams considering experimentally validated prototype laboratory model using similitude and scaling laws. Type-1 arch dam, which is one of five arch dam types suggested at the "Arch Dams" Symposium in England in 1968 is selected as reference prototype model. The dam is built considering dam-reservoir-foundation interaction and ambient vibration tests are performed to validate the finite element results such as dynamic characteristics, displacements, principal stresses and strains. These results are considered as reference parameters and used to determine the real arch dam response with different scales factors such as 335, 400, 416.67 and 450. These values are selected by considering previously examined dam projects. Arch heights are calculated as 201 m, 240 m, 250 m and 270 m, respectively. The structural response is investigated between the model and prototype by using similarity requirements, field equations, scaling laws etc. To validate these results, finite element models are enlarged in the same scales and analyses are repeated to obtain the dynamic characteristics, displacements, principal stresses and strains. At the end of the study, it is seen that there is a good agreement between all results obtained by similarity requirements with scaling laws and enlarged finite element models.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.10 no.7
• /
• pp.67-79
• /
• 2009

Although readjustment of monitoring system for existing fill dam maintenance is needed by the sustainable increasing of the abandonment rate of monitoring devices by malfunction through the life-cycle of dam, monitoring plans for long-term dam safety has relied on the experience and the opinion of minor expert group without systematic and quantitative analysis on the failure modes and the priority order of monitoring devices on maintenance. In this study the priority order of monitoring devices of existing 5 fill dams was evaluated quantitatively based on the preceding study (Andersen et al, 1999) and the result recommended the establishment of real-time monitoring system for seepage, pore pressure and crest settlement as the readjustment plan for existing fill dam monitoring system. This readjustment plan matches well with the recommendation of PWRI (1984), JCOLD (1986) and the results from Bagherzadeh-Khakkahali and Mirghasemi (2005).

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.319-329
• /
• 2020

Structural damage to an arch dam is often of major concern and must be evaluated for probable rehabilitation to ensure safe, regular, normal operation. This evaluation is crucial to prevent any catastrophic or failure consequences for the life time of the dam. If specific major damage such as a large crack occurs to the dam body, the assessments will be necessary to determine the current level of safety and predict the resistance of the structure to various future loading such as earthquakes, etc. This study investigates the behavior of an arch dam cracked due to water pressure. Safety factors (SFs), of shear and compressive tractions were calculated at the surfaces of the contraction joints and the cracks. The results indicated that for cracking with an extension depth of half the thickness of the dam body, for both cases of penetration and non-penetration of water load into the cracks, SFs only slightly reduces. However, in case of increasing the depth of crack extension into the entire thickness of the dam body, the friction angle of the cracked surface is crucial; however, if it reduces, the normal loading SFs of stresses and joints tractions reduce significantly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2010

In this study, the effects of urban areas against flood waves due to a dam failure were numerically investigated based on the two laboratory experiments and the predicted water surface elevations at specific points showed good agreement with available measurements. In the first experiment, a relatively high water depth and the delay effect of flow at the front of urban areas are observed. The urban areas may become a large obstacle against smooth propagation of flood wave. In the second one, as the inflow increases, moreover, the water surface elevations can be classified into abruptly decreasing portion and slowly decreasing portion, and the first arrival time to the front of urban area is decreasing with the increasing inflow.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.321-341
• /
• 2010

The seismic-induced failure of a dam could have catastrophic consequences associated with the sudden release of the impounded reservoir. Depending on the severity of the seismic hazard, the characteristics and size of the dam-reservoir system, preventing such a failure scenario could be a problem of critical importance. In many cases, the release of water is controlled through a reinforced-concrete intake tower. This paper describes the application of a static nonlinear procedure known as the Capacity Spectrum Method (CSM) to evaluate the structural integrity of intake towers subject to seismic ground motion. Three variants of the CSM are considered: a multimodal pushover scheme, which uses the idea proposed by Chopra and Goel (2002); an adaptive pushover variant, in which the change in the stiffness of the structure is considered; and a combination of both approaches. The effects caused by the water surrounding the intake tower, as well as any water contained inside the hollow structure, are accounted for by added hydrodynamic masses. A typical structure is used as a case study, and the accuracy of the CSM analyses is assessed with time history analyses performed using commercial and structural analysis programs developed in Matlab.