Finite Element Modelling of the Technical Condition of a Low-Pressure Earthen Dam of Rice Systems Under Increasing Operational Loads

The article deals with the issue of modelling the technical condition of a low-pressure earthen dam of rice systems using numerical calculation methods. The primary task of operating irrigation systems is to rationalize water use by increasing the technological level, improve water management through the use of water-saving technologies and optimal operating modes of the on-farm network of rice systems. Rice is the most productive and water-intensive crop. The most widespread rice cultivation in Russia is in the South, namely in Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea. The problem of water scarcity in the cultivation of modern rice varieties requires the development of new science-based technological solutions to comply with the regime at the entire stage of cultivation, primarily aimed at saving water resources. Modern approaches and solutions of water regime management at the entire stage of cultivation are relevant with a constant increase in the volume of rice cultivation. A number of numerical experiments were carried out, which can be divided into two groups. In the first group, numerical calculations of the low-pressure earthen dam of the rice check were performed without the formation of landslide processes, where the goal was to establish the adequacy of solid–state models of the stress-strain condition with existing field tests. The pressure from agricultural machinery passing through a low-pressure earthen dam is taken into account. The second group consisted of numerical calculations of low-pressure earthen dam rice check in the formation of landslide processes in the presence of defects, the result of which was to obtain the maximum allowable sizes of damage. There were performed the simulations and evaluated the impact of the identified damage to the technical condition of the structures of on-farm network of rice systems.