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Precast Concrete Blocks for High‐Velocity Flow Applications
Author(s) -
BAKER R.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1990.tb01469.x
Subject(s) - precast concrete , wedge (geometry) , spillway , bedding , three gorges , geotechnical engineering , flow velocity , intensity (physics) , flow (mathematics) , structural engineering , geology , engineering , materials science , mechanics , geometry , optics , physics , mathematics , horticulture , biology
Precast concrete blocks can be used as erosion protection to a surface subjected to high‐velocity water, for example a dam spillway. The paper describes model testing carried out on flat and wedge‐shaped blocks in a purpose‐designed facility at the University of Salford, where an open channel discharge intensity of 0.5 m 2 /s can be accelerated to a velocity of 7.5 m/s. The failure modes of tied and untied flat concrete blocks have been investigated under different laying and bedding conditions. The model results are compared to the findings from prototype studies. Results from experiments on wedge‐shaped blocks of a Soviet design are also presented and confirm the Russian experience that the wedge shape is inherently stable at large discharges, a block of 100‐m thickness being stable under a discharge intensity of 20 m 2 /s.