On-Demand Webinar: Rock Scour Assessment for Dams, Spillways and other Water Conveyance Structures
Association of State Dam Safety Officials, 2020
Erodibility of dam foundations, spillways and other water conveyance structures is a critical issue for the safe operation of dams world-wide. The February 2017 events at the Oroville spillways that resulted in the evacuation of nearly 200,000 downstream residents were a recent reminder of the need for meaningful quantification of scour. The course will offer examples of rock scour events impacting the safety of dams as well as provide an overview of scour mechanisms including discussion of key geologic controls and hydraulic drivers of the scouring process. Methods that can be reliably used to predict and assess such scour will be demonstrated, which include the Erodibility Index Method, a semi-empirical approach, and a more physics-based approach utilizing Block Theory. Both methods analyze the engineering properties of the rock mass and quantify the erosive capacity of flowing water based on principles of hydraulic engineering. These methods will be explained and their use illustrated by example. Finally, incorporation of high-resolution remote sensing tools in scour applications will be explored.
- An understanding that scour of rock is a dam safety concern that requires meaningful quantification.
- An understanding that it is possible to predict the scour potential of rock using data normally available for dam design.
- An understanding that high-resolution remote sensing and monitoring can facilitate improved scour assessment.
- An understanding of processes and key drivers/controls for scour of rocks.
- An understanding of rock scour analysis.
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Speaker(s): George Annandale and Michael F. George
Revision ID: 2313
Revision Date: 08/19/2022