Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Northern British Columbia
$25,000.00
Onset and progression of internal erosion in hydroelectric dams using a coupled fluid-solid simulation method
EF 2023-24
Résumé
To meet the 2050 net-zero goal, hydro energy will play an essential role in future low-carbon energy systems due to its sizeable generation capacity and ability to assist with integrating variable generation from clean energies such as wind and solar. In hydro projects, large-scale dams are critical built infrastructures to retain water for electricity generation and flood control. Due to the potentially catastrophic consequences of dam failures, safeguarding the integrity of these existing water-retaining structures is paramount. Internal erosion, which is the removal of soil particles from the dam body by water seepage, is one of the most common failure causes of earthen dams. Internal erosion can create large dam cavities that increase the local seepage gradient and facilitate continuous removal of soil particles, resulting in piping and sinkholes and, eventually, dam collapse. Current studies using coupled fluid-solid methods are well-poised to reveal the underlying mechanisms that initiate and progress internal erosion. However, they are inadequate because they simplify soils as sphere packs that ignore the influence of irregular grain shape on their pore network and stress transmission. The objectives of this proposed international collaboration are to work with an emerging expert in internal erosion to (1) develop a coupled numerical method for simulating the interaction of fluid and soil particles with irregular grain shape, (2) apply the coupled numerical method to evaluate the onset, and progression of, internal erosion in dams under various stress and hydraulic boundary conditions and propose remediation measures by altering soil grain size and relative compaction effort. The research outcomes will improve the prediction and mitigation of internal erosion of granular materials in earthen dams, which promotes the resilience of critical hydro infrastructures in Canada. The safe and sustainable development of hydro dams will enhance Canada's leadership role in developing clean energy and contribute to reducing Canada's reliance on fossil fuels.
Programme
Alliance Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
British Columbia, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
581102-2022
Name nom
Zheng, Wenbo W
Department département
Science and Engineering, Faculty of (FSE)
Organization id
3
Institution établissement
University of Northern British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
25000
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
600
Area of application group en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application group fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Area of application en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Research subject code
1005
Research subject group en
Civil engineering
Research subject group fr
Hydraulic engineering
Research subject en
Génie civil
Research subject fr
Génie hydraulique
Application title
Onset and progression of internal erosion in hydroelectric dams using a coupled fluid-solid simulation method
Keyword
coupled fluid-solid numerical method; geotechnical failures; grain size distributions; Hydroelectric dams; internal erosion; numerical simulations; particle shape; void ratio
Application summary
To meet the 2050 net-zero goal, hydro energy will play an essential role in future low-carbon energy systems due to its sizeable generation capacity and ability to assist with integrating variable generation from clean energies such as wind and solar. In hydro projects, large-scale dams are critical built infrastructures to retain water for electricity generation and flood control. Due to the potentially catastrophic consequences of dam failures, safeguarding the integrity of these existing water-retaining structures is paramount. Internal erosion, which is the removal of soil particles from the dam body by water seepage, is one of the most common failure causes of earthen dams. Internal erosion can create large dam cavities that increase the local seepage gradient and facilitate continuous removal of soil particles, resulting in piping and sinkholes and, eventually, dam collapse. Current studies using coupled fluid-solid methods are well-poised to reveal the underlying mechanisms that initiate and progress internal erosion. However, they are inadequate because they simplify soils as sphere packs that ignore the influence of irregular grain shape on their pore network and stress transmission. The objectives of this proposed international collaboration are to work with an emerging expert in internal erosion to (1) develop a coupled numerical method for simulating the interaction of fluid and soil particles with irregular grain shape, (2) apply the coupled numerical method to evaluate the onset, and progression of, internal erosion in dams under various stress and hydraulic boundary conditions and propose remediation measures by altering soil grain size and relative compaction effort. The research outcomes will improve the prediction and mitigation of internal erosion of granular materials in earthen dams, which promotes the resilience of critical hydro infrastructures in Canada. The safe and sustainable development of hydro dams will enhance Canada's leadership role in developing clean energy and contribute to reducing Canada's reliance on fossil fuels.
