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Strain measurements at the transition from a rock supported to an unsupported steel lined pressure tunnel at the Kaunertal hydropower station
Author(s) -
Bonapace Paul,
Hammer Andreas
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geomechanics and tunnelling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1865-7389
pISSN - 1865-7362
DOI - 10.1002/geot.201700021
Subject(s) - penstock , geotechnical engineering , geology , engineering , structural engineering , mechanical engineering , physics , humanities , art
A new steel‐lined pressure shaft was constructed for the existing Kaunertal high‐head hydropower plant in the years 2012 to 2015. Before starting operation, initial filling tests were carried out in particular to investigate the behaviour of a steel penstock at the transition from a steel lined pressure tunnel to an open pipe section. Cases with and without steel ring bearings (thrust rings) to transfer the end loads to the rock mass were numerically analysed and compared to measurements. A conclusion is drawn from the measurement results how to arrange and analyse such a steel pipe transition into the rock mass, which may for example occur at valve chambers.