Examination of the Influence of Cut-off Wall Length on Uplift Forces in Diversion Dams (Case Study: Borj Dam)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Water Resources Management, Civil Engineering Coolage, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

The difference in hydraulic head upstream and downstream of the dam, which is subject to hydrostatic pressure, leads to water infiltration through various cracks and fissures in the body and structure of the foundation of the diversion dam. Hydrostatic pressure, essentially an upward force acting to reduce the dam's weight, is a detrimental pressure and the primary cause of dam failure. The objective of this research is to find a solution for reducing under-pressure forces and seepage beneath these dams. Reducing under-pressure forces significantly impacts the execution and maintenance costs of a diversion dam. In this research, numerical modeling was conducted using the GeoStudio software, which is utilized for design, data acquisition, and generating necessary graphs. Initially, the Borj Diversion Dam was studied, and its local data were modeled in the GeoStudio software. It was observed that increasing the length of the cut-off wall upstream and simultaneously reducing the length of the cut-off wall downstream had a significant impact on reducing uplift forces.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Hydraulic and Water Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 1
July 2024
Pages 29-42

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