Evaluating Turbulent Flow in Large Rockfill
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 11
Abstract
This paper describes a laboratory testing program developed to assess the hydraulic properties of coarse rockfill by using a custom-built large-scale permeameter. Tests were performed by using samples 1.5 m in length and in volume. Knowing the hydraulic characteristics of coarse rockfill is important for assessing the safety of the structures under anticipated flow conditions in flow-through rockfill embankments. Flow in rockfill structures often departs from the laminar flow regime at typical operating flow conditions because of the characteristics of the rockfill materials. These characteristics include porosity, particle shape, particle size, roughness, and the tortuosity of the voids within the structure, which result in high velocities in large interconnected void spaces. For this reason, flow-through rockfill structures cannot be predicted by using Darcy’s law. The design and construction of a large-scale permeameter built at the University of Manitoba Hydraulic Research and Testing Facility is presented in detail. The experimental program, which used the large-scale permeameter, studied the nonlinear hydraulic characteristics of coarse rockfill materials for the coefficient in the power-law relationship between hydraulic gradient and bulk velocity. The results demonstrate that the large-scale permeameter successfully characterized the flow-through conditions of a variety of rockfill sizes and gradations under typical flow conditions. Results also allowed the determination of the coefficients to design flow-through rockfill dams for local rockfills.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 11 • November 2011
Pages: 1462 - 1469
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 26, 2010
Accepted: Apr 15, 2011
Published online: Oct 14, 2011
Published in print: Nov 1, 2011
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