Quasi-Prototype Size Testing of Wedge-Shaped Block for Armoring Embankment Dams and Levees
Abstract
:1. Introduction and Background
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Experimental Facility
2.2. Description of the WSB Armoring
- Small block, weighing 5.0 kg, 167.0 mm wide (A) and 243.3 mm long (L).
- Medium block, weighing 15.0 kg, 250.0 mm wide and 364.3 mm long.
- Large block, weighing 35.0 kg, 330.0 mm wide and 401.8 mm long.
- Note that the dimensions are proportional for every size of the block. Thus, the scale ratio between the small and large WSB is 0.51, and 0.76 between the medium and large.
2.3. Instrumentation
2.3.1. Flow Rates
2.3.2. Extraction Force of a Single Block from the WSB Armoring
2.3.3. Movements of the WSB
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Hydraulic Loading and Performance of the WSB Armorings
3.1.1. Test Session 1
3.1.2. Test Session 2
3.2. Movements of the Surface of the WSB Armoring
- A more detailed representation of the upper rows of the WSB armoring (rows #53 to #81 of the small WSB and #35 to #54 of the medium WSB) is shown in Figure 16. In the initial and final zones of the channel, the decrease occurs in complete blocks (mainly green zones) and is especially pronounced in the small blocks of the upper part of the channel (dark green).
- In contrast to the upper rows, upward movements appeared frequently in the lower and central rows, but with values lower than 5 mm (orange colors), and were usually accompanied by areas with downward movements (green colors) within the same row of blocks (Figure 17).
3.3. Measurement of the Forces Needed to Extract the WSB from the Armoring System
3.4. Disscusion on the Performance of the WSB Armoring
4. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- ICOLD. Bulletin No. 99. Dam Failures—Statistical Analysis; International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD): Paris, France, 1995. [Google Scholar]
- FEMA. Technical Manual: Overtopping Protection for Dams U.S. Department of Homeland Security; FEMA: Washington, DC, USA, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Hewlett, H.; Baker RMay, R.; Pravdivets, Y.P. Design of Stepped-Block Spillways; Construction Industry Research and Information Association: London, UK, 1997. [Google Scholar]
- Grinchuk, A.S.; Pravdivets, Y.P.; Shekhtman, N.V. Test of earth slope revetments permitting the flow of water at large specific discharges. Hydrotech. Constr. 1977, 11, 367–373. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pravdivets, Y.P.; Slissky, S.M. Passing floodwaters over embankment dams. Int. Water Power Dam Constr. 1981, 33, 30–32. [Google Scholar]
- Baker, R.; Gardiner, K. Construction and performance of a wedge block spillway at Brushes-Clough reservoir. In Proceedings of the 8th Conference of the British Dam Society on Reservoir Safety and the Environment, Exeter, UK, 4–17 September 1994; pp. 214–223. [Google Scholar]
- Baker, R.; Pravdivets, Y.; Hewlett, H. Design considerations for the use of wedge-shaped precast concrete blocks for dam spillways. Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng. Water Marit. Eng. 1994, 106, 317–323. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Baker, R.; Gardiner, K.D. Building blocks. Int. Water Power Dam Constr. 1995, 47, 2. [Google Scholar]
- Bramley, M.; May, R.; Baker, R. Performance of Wedge-Shaped Blocks in High-Velocity Flow. CIRIA Research Project 407. Stage 1 Report-July 1989, Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA): London, UK, Unpublished work. 1989.
- Bramley, M.; May, R.; Baker, R. Performance of Wedge-Shaped Blocks in High-Velocity Flow. CIRIA Research Project 407. Stage 2 Report-July 1991, Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA): London, UK, Unpublished work. 1991.
- Cloppper, P.E. Hydraulic Stability of Articulated Concrete Block Revetment Systems during Overtopping Flow; Federal Highway Administration: Washington, DC, USA, 1989. [Google Scholar]
- Slovensky, G.G., Jr. Near-Prototype Testing of Wedge-Block Overtopping Protection. Master’s Thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 1993. [Google Scholar]
- Gaston, M.L. Air Entrainment and Energy Dissipation on a Stepped Block Spillway. Master’s Thesis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 1995. [Google Scholar]
- Frizell, K.H. Protecting embankment dams with concrete stepped overlays. Hydro Rev. 1997, 16, 36–45. [Google Scholar]
- Frizell, K.H. ArmorwedgeTM Analysis Report: Block Size Scaling and Bedding Information, Bureau of Reclamation and Amortec Inc.: Washington, DC, USA, Unpublished work (confidential). 2007.
- Thornton, C.I.; Robeson, M.D.; Varyu, D.R. ArmorwedgeTM Data Report 2006 Testing for Armortec Erosion Control Solutions, Inc. Colorado State University: Fort Collins, CO, USA, Unpublished work (confidential). 2006.
- Relvas, A.T.; Pinheiro, A.N. Closure of “Inception Point and Air Concentration in Flows on Stepped Chutes Lined with Wedge-Shaped Concrete Blocks”. J. Hydraul. Eng. 2010, 136, 86–88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Relvas, A.T. Descarregadores de Cheias de Blocos de Betão Prefabricados em Forma de Cunha sobre Barragens de Aterro. Ph.D. Thesis, Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisboa, Portugal, 2008. (In Portuguese). [Google Scholar]
- Relvas, A.T.; Pinheiro, A.N. Inception point and Air Concentration in flows on Stepped Chutes Lined with wedge-shaped concrete blocks. J. Hydraul. Eng. 2008, 134, 1042–1051. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Relvas, A.T.; Pinheiro, A.N. Stepped chutes lined with wedge-shaped concrete blocks: Hydrodynamic pressures on blocks and stability analysis. Can. J. Civ. Eng. 2011, 38, 338–349. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Relvas, A.T.; Pinheiro, A.N. Velocity Distribution and Energy Dissipation along Stepped Chutes Lined with Wedge-Shaped Concrete Blocks. J. Hydraul. Eng. 2011, 137, 423–431. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Morán, R. Wedge-Shaped Blocks: A Historical Review. 2nd International Seminar on Dam Protections against Overtopping. Protections 2016. Colorado State University (CSU). 2016. Available online: https://mountainscholar.org/handle/10217/179790 (accessed on 6 February 2023).
- Caballero, F.J.; Toledo, M.Á.; Moran, R.; San Mauro, J. Hydrodynamic Performance and Design Evolution of Wedge-Shaped Blocks for Dam Protection against Overtopping. Water 2021, 13, 1665. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mauro, J.S.; Toledo, M.; Salazar, F.; Caballero, F.F.J. A Methodology for the Design of Dam Spillways with Wedge-Shaped Blocks Based on Numerical Modeling, Revista Internacional de Métodos Numéricos para Cálculo y Diseo en Ingeniería (RIMNI) 2018. (Online First). Available online: https://www.scipedia.com/public/San_Mauro_et_al_2018a (accessed on 6 February 2023).
- San Mauro, J.; Larese, A.; Salazar, F.; Irazábal, J.; Morán, R.; Toledo, M.Á. Hydraulic and Stability Analysis of the Supporting Layer of Wedge-Shaped Blocks. 2nd International Seminar on Dam Protections against Overtopping and Accidental Leakage. Protections 2016. Colorado State University (CSU). 2017. Available online: https://mountainscholar.org/handle/10217/179782 (accessed on 6 February 2023).
BLOCK SIZE | L | L1 | L2 | L3 | L4 | L5 | L6 | L7 | L8 | L9 | α |
(mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (°) | |
Small | 243.3 | 103.0 | 37.0 | 103.3 | 17.0 | 203.3 | 40.0 | 10.0 | 238.6 | 4.8 | 15.0 |
Medium | 364.3 | 154.2 | 55.4 | 154.7 | 25.4 | 304.4 | 59.9 | 15.0 | 357.1 | 7.1 | 15.0 |
Large | 480.8 | 203.5 | 73.1 | 204.2 | 33.6 | 401.8 | 79.0 | 19.8 | 471.4 | 9.4 | 15.0 |
BLOCK SIZE | A | A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | A5 | A6 | HU | HU1 | HU2 | β |
(mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (°) | |
Small | 167.0 | 17.5 | 28.5 | 25.0 | 19.5 | 30.0 | 53.5 | 65.9 | 27.2 | 38.7 | 10.8 |
Medium | 250.0 | 26.2 | 42.7 | 37.4 | 29.2 | 44.9 | 80.1 | 98.7 | 40.7 | 57.9 | 10.8 |
Large | 330.0 | 34.6 | 56.3 | 49.4 | 38.5 | 59.3 | 105.7 | 130.3 | 53.7 | 76.5 | 10.8 |
BLOCK SIZE | Weight | HD | HD1 | HD2 | HD3 | HD4 | HD5 | H1 | H2 | D1 | D2 |
(kg) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | (mm) | |
Small | 5.0 | 65.9 | 40.0 | 25.9 | 6.3 | 8.7 | 25.0 | 5.0 | 34.2 | 9.0 | 11.0 |
Medium | 15.0 | 98.7 | 59.9 | 38.8 | 9.4 | 13.0 | 37.4 | 7.5 | 51.3 | 13.5 | 16.5 |
Large | 35.0 | 130.3 | 79.0 | 51.3 | 12.4 | 17.2 | 49.4 | 9.9 | 67.7 | 17.8 | 21.7 |
TARGET NUM. | X (mm) | Y (mm) | Z (mm) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2.102 | 0.000 | 1.057 |
2 | 3.987 | 0.000 | 1.057 |
3 | 5.587 | 0.000 | 1.057 |
4 | 7.591 | 0.000 | 1.075 |
5 | 9.589 | 0.000 | 1.075 |
6 | 11.595 | 0.000 | 1.064 |
7 | 13.589 | 0.000 | 1.064 |
8 | 15.584 | 0.000 | 1.051 |
9 | 17.590 | 0.000 | 1.072 |
11 | 2.085 | −2.008 | 1.045 |
12 | 3.963 | −2.008 | 1.050 |
13 | 5.395 | −2.008 | 1.044 |
14 | 7.400 | −2.008 | 1.043 |
15 | 9.408 | −2.008 | 1.043 |
16 | 11.407 | −2.008 | 1.043 |
17 | 13.410 | −2.008 | 1.044 |
18 | 15.410 | −2.008 | 1.044 |
19 | 17.410 | −2.008 | 1.044 |
Extraction Num. | Row (from Downstream) | X * (m) | Z * (m) | Force (N) |
---|---|---|---|---|
- | 42 | 13.10 | 6.55 | - |
1 | 36 | 11.23 | 5.62 | 2770 |
- | 30 | 9.36 | 4.68 | - |
2 | 24 | 7.49 | 3.74 | 3950 |
4 | 18 | 5.62 | 2.81 | 920 |
3 | 10 | 3.12 | 1.56 | 3090 |
Total length (m) | 16.54 | |||
Total drop (m) | 8.27 |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Caballero, F.J.; Toledo, M.Á.; Moran, R.; Peraita, J. Quasi-Prototype Size Testing of Wedge-Shaped Block for Armoring Embankment Dams and Levees. Water 2023, 15, 662. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040662
Caballero FJ, Toledo MÁ, Moran R, Peraita J. Quasi-Prototype Size Testing of Wedge-Shaped Block for Armoring Embankment Dams and Levees. Water. 2023; 15(4):662. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040662
Chicago/Turabian StyleCaballero, Francisco Javier, Miguel Ángel Toledo, Rafael Moran, and Javier Peraita. 2023. "Quasi-Prototype Size Testing of Wedge-Shaped Block for Armoring Embankment Dams and Levees" Water 15, no. 4: 662. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040662
APA StyleCaballero, F. J., Toledo, M. Á., Moran, R., & Peraita, J. (2023). Quasi-Prototype Size Testing of Wedge-Shaped Block for Armoring Embankment Dams and Levees. Water, 15(4), 662. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040662