Effects of Gate-Wall Interaction on Spillway Tainter Gates
As the dam industry moves from standards-based design to risk-informed decisions, a recent article by three HDR hydraulics professionals provides a useful case study on evaluating the effects of gatewall interaction on existing spillway Tainter gates as part of dam safety spillway assessments.
The results demonstrate that the deformations in walls and piers may cause increases in risks that could lead to overstress or even failure during a seismic event. The "Effects of Gate-Wall Interaction on Spillway Tainter Gates" article by Anurag Singhal, Kevin Gerst and Kenwarjit Dosanjh suggests a best practice guideline for the analysis of Tainter gates as part of a retrofit or rehabilitation.
A spillway is an important component of a dam facility and plays a vital role in the controlled or uncontrolled release of water during flood events. A controlled spillway has operable gates attached to the spillway walls and piers that can regulate the amount of discharge. Tainter gates, meanwhile, are considered one of the most economical and suitable types of gate for controlled spillways.
The article appears in the spring 2020 issue of the Dams & Levees Bulletin of the United States Society on Dams. It is based on their award-winning poster and paper from the United States Society on Dams 2019 National Conference Outstanding Poster Presentation.
