Concrete dams |
Left: Sample of synthetically generated damage for a 3D model of a concrete dam structure (left photo). Base 3D model of a simulated concrete spillway structure (right photo). With 3D, researchers can generate a large dataset of realistic images with cracks, spalling, etc. when training the deep- learning algorithms for damage detection. KU will compare results from both the photographic and 3D model approaches. Photo: KU
Looking ahead to Phase Three, outdoor FRP
Below: Allatoona Dam north of Atlanta, GA – USACE Savannah District. Photo: USACE
field testing will take place at USACE dam structures in partnership with ERDC. In Phase Four, longer-term demonstration trials will test FRP repairs in tandem with an existing structure. USACE has a huge stake in the outcomes of this FRP research and field testing as it operates and maintains more than 700 dams and related structures nationwide. Its role in this effort is twofold: physically demonstrate the FRPs on dams/ levees and modernize the ways they improve the dams’ performance under future hazards (extreme floods or seismic events with diverse climate- induced variations). The effort developed and supported through S&T is in strong alignment and partnership with the USACE Civil Works research and development portfolio and will provide broad benefits that help to modernize our nation’s water resources infrastructure.
Environmental considerations Remaining cognizant of the environmental
implications of this initiative, the team knows that any time an innovation is introduced, an environmental assessment is conducted. If the FRP installation increases the carbon emissions budget, there could be tradeoffs. For example, if a dam doesn’t need frequent maintenance, this could offset production process emissions. Using FRPs to replace steel structural parts will help avoid painting, which could be hazardous to the environment. Additionally, by extending the life of existing dam/levee infrastructure, carbon emissions decrease because no new concrete material is used, and no material is wasted from demolition of existing structures. Right now, dams still need in-person visual inspections, but with the help of drones for photos, seismic data to determine how much geo stress the structures have been experiencing, and self-sensing FRPs could help monitor the dams from a distance.
What’s next after the initiative is completed?
At the end of this initiative, the successfully tested products – FRP repairs, AI and self-sensing FRPs for damage detection – will be transitioned to the commercial sector. In cooperation with the American Society for Civil Engineers and the Association of Dam Safety Officials, USACE will update its industry guidance on dam/levee retrofits, so industry can easily deploy the FRPs for construction projects. This research could potentially trigger innovations in how the U.S. designs and constructs roadways, bridges and other concrete structures. The chosen FRPs could make structures more resistant to deterioration, increasing their resilience to seismic activity and vibrations from increased road traffic. Longer-term, S&T’s research agenda includes
Author info
Dr. David Alexander is the DHS S&T Senior Science Advisor for Resilience, who has been conducting research in critical infrastructure resilience for more than 30 years, writes about a dream team of government and academic experts led by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, joining forces to ensure our critical infrastructure remains resilient and sustainable.
Margarita Yatsevich is a Science Writer/Editor for the S&T Communications and Outreach Division.
addressing saltwater infrastructure because it, too, may require a different research approach. S&T will also study self-healing concrete, which can self-repair internal damage like cracks without the need of external intervention. Fiber capsules filled with repair solution are added to concrete mix; over time, the fibers/capsules break when cracks appear, and the liquid contained within spreads immediately to heal the crack. As concrete infrastructure typically has a 50-year lifespan, these emerging technologies and the retrofitting work is the first of many important steps and opportunities to study disaster risks, strengthen critical infrastructure and prepare the workforce in a future economy that could lead to more equitable outcomes.
36 | July 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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