BEHAVIOR OF INFLATABLE DAMS UNDER HYDROSTATIC CONDITIONS
Keywords:
Inflatable dam, hydrostatic pressure, internal pressure, dam shape, tensionAbstract
Inflatable dams are flexible cylindrical inflatable and deflatable structures made of rubberized material attached to a rigid base and inflated by air, water, or a combination of air/water. The interest in inflatable dams is increasing because of the ease of placement and construction. In this study the behavior of air or water-inflated dams is physically and theoretically analyzed under different conditions of internal pressure, upstream and downstream water depth. Experimental data obtained on a laboratory test facility for air inflated and water-inflated dams were presented and compared with the theoretical results estimated from a developed computer program describing height, cross-sectional profiles and cross-sectional areas of the dams. Good agreement was obtained between the theoretical and experimental results. Further theoretical analyses were conducted to investigate the behavior of the dams under different conditions.
References
Alhamati, A.A. (2002). Investigation and analysis of inflatable dams [M.Sc. thesis]. Building and Construction Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq, p. 117.
Al-Shami, A. (1983). Theory and design of inflatable structures [Ph.D. thesis]. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, p. 185.
Alwan, A.D. (1979). The analysis and design of inflatable dams [Ph.D. thesis]. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, p. 195.
Anwar, H.O. (1967). Inflatable dams. Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE, 93(Hy3): 99-119.
Abd alsaber, I.B. (1997). Effects of sediments and tailwater depths on the performance of air inflated dams. [Ph.D. thesis]. University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq, p. 95.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards. (1985). Standard Test Methods for Rubber Properties in Tension, Vol. 08.01(D412).
Binnie, G.M., Thomas, A.R, and Gwyther, J.R. (1973). Inflatable Weir Used During Construction of Mangala Dam. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers; Part 1, 54: 625-639.
Dumont, U. (1989). The use of inflatable weirs for water level regulation. International Water Power and Dam Construction, 41(10):44-46.
Harrison, H.B. (1970). The analysis and behavior of inflatable dams under static loading. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 45:661-676.
Harrison, H.B. (1971). The analysis and behavior of inflatable dams under static loading (Discussion). Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, 48:131-139.
Hsieh, J.C., Plaut, R.H., and Yucel, O. (1989). Vibrations of an inextensible cylindrical membrane inflated with liquid. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 3:151-163.
Imbertson, N.M. (1960). Automatic rubber diversion dam in the Los Angeles River. Journal of American Water Works Association, 52:1,373-1,378.
Nicholas, M.H. and Rangaswami, N. (1983). Flexible dams inflated by water. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 109(7): 1,044-1,048.
Parbery, R.D. (1976). A continuous method of analysis for the inflatable dam. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Part 2, 61:725-736.
Parbery, R.D. (1978). Factors affecting the membrane dam Inflated by air pressure. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Part 2, 65: 645-654.
Plaut, R.H., and Fagan, T.D. (1988). Vibrations of an inextensible, air-inflated, cylindrical membrane. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 55: 672-675.
Plaut, R.H., and Leeuwrik, J.M. (1988). Non-linear oscillations of an inextensible, air-inflated, cylindrical membrane. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, 23(5/6):347-353.
Takasaki, M. (1989). The omata inflatable weir, at the Kawabi hydro scheme, Japan. International Water Power and Dam Construction, 41(1):39-41.
Tam, P.W.M. (1998). Use of inflatable dams as agricultural weirs in Hong Kong. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, 124(12): 1,215-1,226.
Zhang, X.Q., Tam, P.W.M., and Zheng, W. (2002). Construction, operation, and maintenance of rubber dams. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 29:409-420.
