GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF ROCK EROSION IN EMERGENCY SPILLWAY CHANNELS. REPORT 5: SUMMARY OF RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This document is a final report of a series of REMR reports which summarizes 5 years of research on erosion in unlined emergency spillway channels. Experience has shown that severe erosion of rock and soils flooring unlined emergency spillway channels may cause undermining or failure of spillway structures and catastrophic release of reservoir waters. An observational data base was developed to document cases of spillway erosion using data from site visits, Periodic Inspection Reports, videos of spillway flow, and the literature, and laboratory flume studies using simulated earth materials were conducted to investigate knickpoint migration at a waterfall. The following recommendations are derivatives from these research activities: the CE should maintain close liaison and cooperation with the SCS in terms of site visits and the sharing of research information; sites which have experienced spillway flow should be documented, preferably by video, and described geotechnically, as well, and hydraulically; and future research should address erosion prediction, knickpoint pressure differentials and venting by flume and prototype testing, numeric modeling and computer simulation of knickpoint erosion, risk analyses (at conditions less than Project Maximum Flood or Spillway Design Flood), and the downstream sedimentation effects of severe erosion in spillway channels.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg

  Department of Geology
  Hattiesburg, MS  United States  39406-5044

  U.S. Army Waterways Experiment Station

  Geotechnical Laboratory, 3909 Halls Ferry Road
  Vicksburg, MS  United States  39180-6199

  University of Missouri, Rolla

  Department of Geological Engineering
  Rolla, MO  United States  65401-6540

  Texas A&M University, College Station

  Department of Geology
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3115
• Authors:
  • Cameron, C P
  • Patrick, D M
  • May, J H
  • Palmerton, J B
  • McAneny, C C
  • Hatheway, A W
  • Bartholomew, C O
  • Mathewson, C C
  • Cato, K D
• Publication Date: 1990-9

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 34 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Databases; Erosion; Future; Geotechnical engineering; Laboratory tests; Recommendations; Research; Risk analysis; Rocks; Spillways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Future research
• Old TRIS Terms: Knickpoint migration
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Research; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00600735
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Tech Rept REMR-GT-3
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1990 12:00AM