Geotechnical Structures

ENGM271
LECTURE 1

Exam

Revision

Independent
study

Laboratory

Coursework

Session length

Tutorial

Lecture

Advanced Ground Engineering: ENGM271 Geotechnical Structures

Topic

Session order
number

TIME PLAN

(hours)
1
2

PART 1 DAMS
UNIT 1
Hydraulic Structures: Dams, Definitions, Classifications
2
Tutorial
1
UNIT 2
Design questions. Gates and Spillways
1
Tutorial
0.5
UNIT 3
Embankment dams
1
Tutorial
0.5
UNIT 4
Seepage
0.5
Tutorial
0.5
UNIT 5
Filters and drains
1
Tutorial
1
UNIT 6
Compaction
1.5
Tutorial
1.5

Laboratory demonstration (1)

UNIT 7
Stability
Tutorial
NA Coursework
7 UNIT 8
Settlements (with dam revision)
Tutorial
5
6

PART 2 TUNNELS
UNIT 9
Empirical methods and failure criteria
Tutorial
9 UNIT 10 Soil-lining interaction
Tutorial
UNIT 11 Excavation methods and ground movement
Tutorial
10 UNIT 12 Structural stability and numerical analysis
Tutorial
UNIT 13 Excavation technology
Tutorial
8

PART 3 BASEMENTS
11 UNIT 14 Design
Tutorial
12 REVISION and EXAM
TOTAL
150
Inependent study hours:
Dams
Tunnels
Basements
(1)

Video-Recorded for distant learning candidates

3
3
6
3
3
6
2
3
4
3
3

10
2

3
40

2.5

6
0.5

7
0.5

2
0.5

2
1

7
1

21

13 30

40

72

3 2
3 2

40
25
7

What will you get at the end of this lecture?

Role and scope of dam engineering
Information on dams exiting worldwide
Type of dams and classifications
Nomenclature of essential parts of dams
Risks and mitigation Alerting systems
How to calculate the time for lowering the level of the reservoir

Number Year

Relevant
ICOLD
Bullettins
(available
on
Surrey
Learn)

Topic

31a

1982 A glossary of words and phrases related to dams

33

1979 Compendium for dam symbols

67

1988 Sedimentation control of reservoirs - Guidelines

91

1993 Embankment dams. Upstream slope protection - Review & recommendations

111

1998 Dam Break flood analysis - Review and recommendations

115

1999 Dealing with reservoir sedimentation - Guidelines and case studies

116

1999 Dams and Fishes - Review and recommendations

117

2000 The gravity dam: a dam for the future - Review and recommendations

140

2007 Mathematical modelling of sediment transport and deposition in reservoirs

141

2010 Concrete face rockfill dams - Concepts for design and constructions

144

2010 Cost savings in dams

147

2009 Sedimentation and Sustainable Use of Reservoirs and River Systems - Draft

155

2013 Guidelines for use of numerical models in dam engineering

162

2010 The interaction of hydraulic processes and reservoirs

163

2011 Dams for hydroelectric energy

164

2013 Internal erosion of existing dams, levees and dikes, and their foundations Vol. 1

Figure 1.1 Total number of large dams built in the world. (1) worldwide; (2) worldwide apart
5
from China; (3) in China (after Jiazheng and Jing, 2000)

Figure 1.2 Concrete dams: a) gravity dams with spillway; b) overflowing gravity dam; c)
buttress dam, 1 slab, 2 buttresses; d) arch dam
maximum water level
direction of water flow
(after Tanchev, 2014)
6

Figure 1.3 Drains in homogeneous dams. a) toe drain; b) horizontal blanked drain; c)
chimney drain. (after Sherard et al., 1963)

Figure 1.4 Embankment dams: a) homogeneous; b), c), d) zoned with central impervious
core; e) with impervious face lining, f) with central impervious diaphragm wall
1 permeable earthfill; 2 impermeable earthfill; 3 artificial lining and toe cut-off wall; 4
artificial core diaphragm (after Tanchev, 2014)
8

Figure 1.7 The Hirfandi, Turkey: example of inclined core dam (after Sherard et al., 1963)
9

10

Figure 1.8 Features of a dam: a) elevation profile; b) water volume V and free surface are A
against impounding height H
1 dam cross section
I
dead storage
2 top
II
live storage
3 outlet tunnel
III
retention storage
4 sluice gate
h
freeboard
5 foundation
MWL, N.W.L. & Min. W.L. Maximum, Normal & Minimum water
levels
CR.L. Crest Level i.e. top level
T.W.L. Toe Water Level
11
(adapted from Tanchev, 2014)

Pursuing the best sizing of reservoirs empting time T

Why T is not the complete question to address?

What about the velocity of drawdown? Why we need to fix this?

Numerical assumption data handling
Accuracy and sensitivity analysis

The influence on upstream and downstream environments

Manual or automatic operation? Decision making & expertise
12

Figure 1.10 Submerged areas in the valley downstream St Francis Dam as in the simulation
of the catastrophic flood occurred after the collapse of the dam few hours later the first
impounding on 12 03 1928. A, B and C respectively relate to 900, 972 and 1044s after dam
break; M1 and M2 are stations where flood hydrographs have been presented (after
Begnudelli and Sanders, 2007)

13

Figure 1.12 Two N-S geological sections of the Vaiont Valley 1) before and 2) after the
landslide. The downstream face of the arc dam involved in the event (the highest worldwide
at the time) appears in section 1) (after Semenza and Ghirotti, 2000 as in Geneovis and
Ghirotti, 2005)

14

15

Position Elevation Volume Surface Water Velocity at Flow Volumes

Time Cumulative
Area Level
the
rate
to be
spent to value of
above contracted
discharged discharge
the
outlet section
DV
discharged
volume

TUTORIAL 1

i
M.W.L.
N.W.L.
Min. W.L.
T.W.L.
Centre bottom outlet exit
Diameter of the bottom outlet D
Coefficient of contraction Cc
Acceleration of gravity
Cathment area

Use for your Hi:

Use for your Vi:
with i=0-10

154.5
146.5
115.0
110.0
112.5
3.0
0.8
9.81
90.0

m a.s.l.
m a.s.l.
m a.s.l.
m a.s.l.
m a.s.l.
m
2

m/s
km2

Hi
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Vi

m a.s.l. m3/106
154.5
33
146.5
20
145
18
140
13
135
9
130
6
125
3.5
120
2
115
0.7
112.5
0.6
108
0

Ai

DV

Vd

Ha
340
250
210
185
140
105
70
40
22
15
0

m/s

m3/s

m3/106

hrs

m3/106

34.0
32.5
27.5
22.5
17.5
12.5
7.5
2.5
0.0

25.8
25.3
23.2
21.0
18.5
15.7
12.1
7.0
0.0

146.1
142.8
131.4
118.8
104.8
88.6
68.6
39.6
0.0

2.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.5
1.5
1.3
0.1
0.6

3.80
9.73
8.46
7.01
6.63
4.71
5.26

Total time for discharge (hrs)

45.60

2.0
7.0
11.0
14.0
16.5
18.0
19.3

WILL BE GIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE ASSIGNMENT

WILL BE GIVEN AT THE TIME OF THE ASSIGNMENT

QUESTIONS:
a) Plot (Vd,t)
b) Determine the overall time to lower the level of the reservoir from N.W.L to Min. W.L.
c) Determine the silting time t s of the dead capacity assuming 0.6mm/year as average soil erosion rate in the catchment
area
16
d) Suggest measures to control sediment level at time t>ts