Experimental Study on Impact Load on a Dam Due to Debris Flow

Abstract

When a dam is struck by mud or debris flow, it is put under a great impact load and sometimes is destroyed. To prevent such destruction, it is important to perform basic research about the impact load on a dam due to debris flow. Thus, we have made an experimental study and tried to establish a method to estimate such a impact load on the dam. The experiment was performed with glass beads of 5mm in diameter as bulk solid, in an open channel which is 7m in length, and 15cm in both width and depth. In these experiments, the load on the dam was measured by a dam-type load measuring device, and simultaneously the behavior of the debris flow was observed by a high speed video (200 frames per second). In the high velocity area, the load consisted of the dynamic pressure on the flow, and most agree at each point in time with the one assessed from the flow's momentum variation. However there is no method to estimate debris flow's momentum variation on an obstructed object. Consequently, a model is proposed to estimate quantitatively the deformation of the flow and the load on the dam. The results from the computer simulation of this model agree well with the experimental results.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the IUFRO technical session on geomorphic hazards in managed forests: 5-11 August 1990: Montreal, Canada

Citation

Miyoshi, lwao. 1991. Experimental Study on Impact Load on a Dam Due to Debris Flow. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-130, Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Staton, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 48-55