OPTIMIZING WATER INTAKE TOWER DESIGN FOR EARTH DAM CONSTRUCTION.
Abstract:
Water intake towers serve as crucial components in reservoir outlet works, providing a means of regulating water intake. However, many dam intakes in Nigeria face non-functionality issues due to the lack of asset monitoring capabilities. In this study, the most suitable type of tower was identified, and an optimized design for a water intake tower was developed using the Random Finite Element Method (RFEM) and analyzed according to British standard specifications (BS5059, BS8110; part 1, 2, and 3, and BS5337).
The design process involved careful consideration of durability factors and thorough analysis of the forces acting on the structure, with specific attention given to the geometry and type of water intake tower. The selected design encompasses a rectangular water intake tower with an area of 1610 mm2, exhibiting minimal thermal cracking of 0.039 mm (less than the allowable limit of 0.2 mm) and a favorable ratio of 0.0033 (less than the permissible value of 0.0053). The design incorporates a minimum steel area of 500 mm2 to ensure structural integrity.
For the dam height of 6 m, the concrete wall thickness was set at 0.20 m. Additionally, variations in dam height (6 m, 10 m, 15 m, and 20 m) were considered, resulting in corresponding concrete wall thicknesses of 0.20 m, 0.35 m, 0.50 m, and 0.65 m, respectively. These variations were accompanied by corresponding steel areas of 1085 mm2, 1899 mm2, 2712 mm2, and 3525 mm2, uplift pressures of 117.6, 196, 294, and 392, and maximum horizontal pressures of 176.4, 490, 1102.5, and 1960, respectively.
By implementing the proposed design approach and considering the various geometries, the water intake tower’s structural integrity and efficiency can be significantly enhanced, addressing the current issues faced by dam intakes in Nigeria.
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