Small-Scale Physical Model for Studying the Effect of Rock Mass Parameters in the Hydraulic Erosion Process of Unlined Spillways
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023
ABSTRACT
Physical flow models are used to study parameters affecting the erodibility of rock in dam unlined spillways. Among the existing physical models, the parameters of joint orientation and of protrusion are the most studied. However, other rock mass parameters have an important contribution in the erosion mechanism, but they were given less attention in existing research, or when studied, mixed results were obtained. In addition, most of the models simulate rock mass considering a single block, which cannot simulate possible interactions between blocks. To address this problem, a scale model that simulates an existing spillway was built in a UQAC laboratory. This model is a 1:40 scale of the existing spillway and reproduces hydraulic conditions of the prototype. The physical model makes it possible to vary several rock mass parameters, such as joint orientation, joint opening, protrusion, block volume, as well as joint roughness, to evaluate their impact in the rock erosion process.
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Published In
World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023
Pages: 89 - 98
History
Published online: May 18, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Engineering fundamentals
- Erosion
- Geology
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic models
- Hydraulic structures
- Joints
- Mathematics
- Models (by type)
- Parameters (statistics)
- Physical models
- Rock masses
- Rock mechanics
- Scale models
- Spillways
- Statistics
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Water and water resources
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