Substantiation of the Strength and Stability of Concrete Dams Based on the Solution of a Nonlinear Three-Dimensional Problem

An analysis of methods of nonlinear computation of concrete dams is presented, which makes it possible to determine the margin of the bearing capacity of the “structure – foundation” system. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel'stvo, No. 5, May 2005, pp. 42 – 45.     

Adaptation to Climate Change in the Management of a Canadian Water-Resources System Exploited for Hydropower

The management adaptation potential of the Peribonka River water resource system (Quebec, Canada) is investigated in the context of the evolution of climate change. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impacts on hydropower, power plant efficiency, unproductive spills and reservoir reliability due to changes in the hydrological regimes. The climate change projections used here are from the Canadian regional climate model (CRCM) nested by the Canadian-coupled global climate model (CGCM3) forced with the SRES A2 greenhouse gas emission scenario. The hydrological regimes were simulated with the distributed hydrological model Hydrotel. They were incorporated into a dynamic and stochastic optimization model in order to adapt the operating rules of the water resource system annually, according to the evolution of the climate. The impacts were analyzed over the years 1961–2099, split into four periods for comparison purposes: control period (1961–1990), horizon 2020 (2010–2039), horizon 2050 (2040–2069) and horizon 2080 (2070–2099). The main results indicate that annual mean hydropower would decrease by 1.8% for the period 2010–2039 and then increase by 9.3% and 18.3% during the periods 2040–2069 and 2070–2099, respectively. The trend to increase is statistically significant starting from 2061 (Mann–Kendall with p = 5%). The change in the mean annual production is statistically significant for the 2040–2069 and 2070–2099 periods (t-test with p = 5%). Also, the change in the variance is significant for the periods 2010–2039, 2040–2069 and 2070–2099 (F-test). Annual mean unproductive spills would increase from 1961–2099, but the trend is not statistically significant. However, the changes in the variance of the annual mean spills are significant in the periods 2010–2039, 2040–2069 and 2070–2099. Overall, the reliability of a reservoir would decrease and the vulnerability increase as the climate changes.     

Construction of a supplementary bank discharge for the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP

Construction of a complementary bank discharge for the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP will ensure the normal operating regime of the toe basin. Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 11, November 2008, pp. 39–43.     

Climate Variability Influences on Hydrological Responses of a Large Himalayan Basin

The hydrological cycle, a fundamental component of climate is likely to be altered in important ways due to climate change. In this study, the historical daily runoff has been simulated for the Chenab River basin up to Salal gauging site using a simple conceptual snowmelt model (SNOWMOD). The model has been used to study the impact of plausible hypothetical scenarios of temperature and rainfall on the melt characteristics and daily runoff of the Chenab River basin. The average value of increase in snowmelt runoff for T + 1°C, T + 2°C and T + 3°C scenarios are obtained to be 10, 28 and 43%, respectively. Whereas, the average value of increase in total streamflow runoff for T + 1°C, T + 2°C and T + 3°C are obtained to be 7, 19 and 28%, respectively. Changes in rainfall by −10 and + 10% vary the average annual snowmelt runoff over the T + 2°C scenario by −1% and + 1% only. The result shows that melt is much more sensitive to increase in temperature than to rainfall.     

Three-dimensional stressed state of the asphalt-concrete wall in a rock-fill dam

Numerical analysis of the stressed-strained states of a dam with an asphalt concrete water wall are performed. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 10, October 2006, pp. 29–33.     

Effect of variation in the diameter of a centrifugal dredge impeller on its characteristics

Studies intended to refine the pump hydraulics are described. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 11, November 2006, pp. 26–31.     

Numerical modeling of the formation and transport of condensed moisture in the lower pool of a hydroproject during the operation of spring-board spillways

A model of three-dimensional forced convection and transport of condensed moisture in the lower pools of hydroprojects is developed. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 7, July 2007, pp. 17–27.     

Earthquake resistance of a gravity dam with consideration of the linear character of concrete deformation

Use of nonlinear dynamic analysis with application of concrete-strain diagrams has permitted more adequate evaluation of the stress-strain state of a structure subject to seismic effects. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 1, January, 2007, pp. 4–10.     

Safe blasting procedure within a preservable space of a medium

A system approach to a combined scheme to establish a safe procedure for blasting operations is examined. __________ Translated from Gidrotechnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 8, pp. 17–22, August, 2006.     

Determination of losses sustained from hydrodynamic failure at a tailing pond located in the northern climatic zone

The data can be used for assessment and prediction of consequences resulting from tailing-pond failures. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 7, July 2007, pp. 39–41.     

Evaluation of wind-driven sea swells at the site of a set of protective structures and wave loads on navigation facilities

A procedure is presented fort analysis of wind speeds and elements of extremal waves. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 12, December 2007, pp. 46–52.     

Bottom distribution of settled suspended particles on entering a gravitational basin over the entire depth of flow

Results of investigation are cited for laws governing the distribution of settled uniform and nonuniform particles, which proceed past the starting point over the entire depth of flow. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 2, February, 2007, pp. 33–39.     

Calculating the thermally stressed state of the high and medium pressure rotors of a T-250/300-240 turbine in the labyrinth seal zone

The temperature and thermally stressed state of the high and medium pressure rotors of the T-250/300-240 district heating steam turbine are calculated, taking into account the concentration of stresses in the neighborhood of the thermal grooves in labyrinth seals. “Critical” zones in the turbine rotors, within which thermal stresses limit the rate of startup, are determined. Some practices for reducing the temperature stresses are suggested. __________ Translated from élektricheskie Stantsii, No. 1, pp. 32–37 (2008).     

An Investigation of the Impacts of Agricultural Runoff on the Water Quality and Aquatic Organisms in a Lowveld Sand River System in Southeast Zimbabwe

In this research we examined the hypothesis that agricultural pollution is a key determinant of variability in nutrients concentrations and benthic fauna in a semi-arid tropical lowveld region of southeast Zimbabwe. Water quality was monitored in the river water column and river bottom sediments at a time when dissolved oxygen concentration was thought to be very low during the winter period in the rivers passing through low input agricultural sections and intensive commercial agricultural sections. The surveys used established chemical methods and biological methods. Benthic fauna assemblages were used to complement chemical cases of nutrient loading at localities chosen for sampling. Unpolluted control sites were not significantly different (t test, p < 0.05) from polluted sites in levels in mean values of dissolved oxygen, conductivity, total dissolved solids and mean density (no.m²) of benthic invertebrates in May. Significant differences (t test, p < 0.05) were not found in mean values of calcium, magnesium, potassium, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorous in river bottom sediments in May and August. These data certainly do not support the notion that the Runde River is severely polluted by the upstream agricultural activities and the hypothesis that agricultural runoff is a key determinant of water quality is rejected. As the data suggests the Runde River may be receiving moderate nutrient pollution. The positive effects of moderate eutrophication on fish catch and the trade-off in pollution implied here needs to be addressed by appropriate agricultural and environmental policies that relate to water pollution and land use.     

Railroad crossing of Nevel’skogo Strait from the mainland to Sakhalin Island — alternate scheme with a dead-end dike and navigation canal

Alternate schemes are presented for the railroad crossing of a strait. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 4, April 2008, pp. 42–49.     

Use of a new type of anchor piles for stability of offshore structures

A method is developed for numerical modeling of pile/soil interaction. __________ Translated from Gidrotechnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 3, March 2005, pp. 37–41     

Construction of a standard floating power-generating unit for tidal power plants

The construction of a standard power-generating unit at a tidal power plant is presented. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 9, September 2007, pp. 2–8.     

Soil Erosion Assessment in a Hilly Catchment of North Eastern India Using USLE, GIS and Remote Sensing

In the present study, soil erosion assessment of Dikrong river basin of Arunachal Pradesh (India) was carried out. The river basin was divided into 200 × 200 m grid cells. The Arc Info 7.2 GIS software and RS (ERDAS IMAGINE 8.4 image processing software) provided spatial input data and the USLE was used to predict the spatial distribution of the average annual soil loss on grid basis. The average rainfall erositivity factor (R) for Dikrong river basin was found to be 1,894.6 MJ mm ha⁻¹ h⁻¹ year⁻¹. The soil erodibility factor (K) with a magnitude of 0.055 t ha h ha⁻¹ MJ⁻¹ mm⁻¹ is the highest, with 0.039 t ha h ha⁻¹ MJ⁻¹ mm⁻¹ is the least for the watershed. The highest and lowest value of slope length factor (LS) is 53.5 and 5.39 respectively for the watershed. The highest and lowest values of crop management factor (C) were found out to be 0.004 and 1.0 respectively for the watershed. The highest and lowest value of conservation factor (P) were found to be 1 and 0.28 respectively for the watershed. The average annual soil loss of the Dikrong river basin is 51 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. About 25.61% of the watershed area is found out to be under slight erosion class. Areas covered by moderate, high, very high, severe and very severe erosion potential zones are 26.51%, 17.87%, 13.74%, 2.39% and 13.88% respectively. Therefore, these areas need immediate attention from soil conservation point of view.     

Operation of the dam of the Bureiskaya HPP during filling of the reservoir

Operation of the dam in a transitional mode is described. __________ Translated from Gidrotekhnicheskoe Stroitel’stvo, No. 1, January 2006, pp. 8–15.     

Standardization of the strength of large-lump soils

The law governing variation in soil properties is examined. Translated from Gidrotechnicheskoe Stroitel‘stvo, No. 2, February 2009, pp. 4–12.