Case Study 006: Upstream Dam Surfaced Material Selection Study

March 31, 2020 by Chen Fun Wee

CWI Services completed a material selection study for hyrdopower dam for a design company from Sichuan China. The material selection study was carried out to analyse the feasibility of using alternative metallic material for dam surface to replace the concrete material. The study was initiated by the hydropower plant owner and contracted to CWI Services via the design company Sichuan Tongxingyuan.

In the design process, TXY considered to use reinforced concrete to construct the entire dam. However, there are challenges to construct upstream dam side for retaining water with reinforced concrete due to the possibility of concrete cracking during the hydration process. Also, reinforced concrete also has inadequate tensile strength to withstand the service loads and prevent cracking in the case of dam movement is happened. Furthermore, construction cost of using reinforced concrete is also not economic. Therefore, the TXY considered to design the upstream dam side with alternative metallic surfaced material to cover the upstream dam surface.

CWI Services carried out a material selection study to study the feasibility of metallic material as dam surfaced material. The material selection study by applying the approach as follows:

1. Understand the service and design requirements.
2. Identify candidate materials based on the service environment and design requirements.
3. Define the criteria for material selection study.
4. Carry out detail feasibility analysis to analyse the following factors:
5. Mechanical properties of the candidate materials – Tensile strength to withstand load and dam movement and toughness to avoid brittle fracture.
6. Potential degradations with respect to environmental assisted degradations and construction led degradations.
7. Material and construction costs.
8. Recommend suitable material to be used as dam surface material.

The overview of this material selection study process and the result are illustrated graphically in picture as attached.

Throughout the systematic and scientific material selection study carried out CWI Services, TXY obtain information with respect to candidate metallic materials to propose the design ideas to PNG Hydro Development Limited.

CWI Services is capable to carry out material selection study from various perspectives to ensure the comprehensiveness and appropriateness of material application. Further information related to material selection service or other services offered by CWI Services, please visit www.cwi-services.com or contact us at funwee.chen@cwi-services.com