Get Instant Help From 5000+ Experts For
question

Writing: Get your essay and assignment written from scratch by PhD expert

Rewriting: Paraphrase or rewrite your friend's essay with similar meaning at reduced cost

Editing:Proofread your work by experts and improve grade at Lowest cost

And Improve Your Grades
myassignmenthelp.com
loader
Phone no. Missing!

Enter phone no. to receive critical updates and urgent messages !

Attach file

Error goes here

Files Missing!

Please upload all relevant files for quick & complete assistance.

Guaranteed Higher Grade!
Free Quote
wave

You are required to write a report which critically analyses the conceptual design phase of a systems engineering project. Projects might include designing a bridge, a dam, an environmentally-conscious building or a mechatronic system.

Needs Definition

Dams are man-made barriers that retain water across water channels. The construction of dams is a major field in civil engineering. Spillway is an important feature that is added during the construction of dams because it enables water to flow around, through or over the dam (Jantzer, 2009, p.89).  Dams are mainly used in generation of hydroelectric power, supply of water in urban centers, prevention of floods and provision of water for irrigation. However, Jantzer (2009) concluded that the safe retention and storage of water is the core function of dams, p.92.

Dams used a wide variety of materials to construct and they can also be designed using different shapes, sizes and area (Vick, 2008). Materials that are commonly used in the construction and design of dams are rocks, timbers, earth fill, steel and concrete. The construction of dams is mainly divided into two parts, depending on the nature of materials used: concrete and embankment banks (Vick, 2008).  Embankment dams use earth fill and are characterized by angular slopes that lead to formation of dams with a wider construction. Consequently, concrete is used in the construction of concrete dams. Jantzer (2009) argued that these types of dams are characterized by downstream sides and vertical up streams that are steep. Additionally, these dams enable designers to construct dams that are slender, p.93.

Mining of large metal ores in Boliden area has led to the need for constructing dams that will store residue water used in the processing of metal ores (Iroko, 2006). Additionally, this dam will also serve other purposes within and around the mining industry. The dams that will be designed in this area are earth fill dams and will utilize the natural materials found near the mines.

Soil that contain diverse characteristics and wide range of fractions will be bound through compaction process (Amadel, 2008, p.54). Residue water is a by-product produced due to mining activities and activities that are related to the mines like sedimentation basins formed after treating water, collection of water from surface run off. This water should not be disposed of because it will pollute the surrounding environment. Therefore, there is need to store and treat this water (Amadel, 2008, p.57). The construction of small and minor dams makes it possible to store this water; the water can then be treated and used in other areas.

The high demand of metal across the world has led to frequent construction of dams due to increase in release of residue water. The main problem experienced in dams is high rates of seepage (Nick, 2008). This is caused by use of different materials during construction. In addition to this, the mining processes expose the dams to different loading conditions that change the water level of the reservoirs. Amadel (2008) has stressed on the importance of designing dams that provide a reliable engineering system that will make it easy and economical to treat residue water, p.56. This can only be achieved by analyzing and evaluating the stability and reliability of these dams during extreme conditions. The aim of this paper is to design a dam that can be used to store residue water in a metal mining industry.

Core

We will design an embankment dam that will be constructed using a combination of earth fill and rock fill. The dam’s composition will depend on the nature of surrounding environment. The Upstream is the slope found on top of the reservoir side while downstream is the slope found below the reservoir (Heide, 2009, p.233). The discharge system is located at the downstream slope (Heide, 2009, p.236).

The Interaction between varieties of materials is used to control the construction of a dam (Akkose, 2008, p.418). In order to fully understand how these materials control the construction of the dam, we shall use the figure 1.0 shown below to describe different parts of the dam.

This part is made up of impermeable materials because it is used to prevent seepage (Fell, 2005,p.10 ). This dam can therefore be described as a zoned dam because it contains a core, support fill and other features.

A filter system will be used to collect materials that erode due to seepage and prevent erosion of materials. Research done by Fell (2005) showed that this system can also be used to decrease the pressure caused by water as well as reduce seepage during construction. The materials and filter solution used in designing filter systems will vary depending on their position, p.11. For instance, fine filters will be located near the core so as to prevent seepage and collect particles while rough particles will be placed outside fine filters (SveMin, 2012, p.118). Over ally, materials used in constructing the filter system will be more permeable than the surrounding materials.  

The materials used here will improve the stability of the system by protecting other features used in the design. Fell (2005) further argued that the support fill can be filled with materials that can stop the transportation of eroded material, p.12.

The action of waves, surface runoff and snow on dams should be minimized during the construction of dams (SveMin, 2012, p.125). The dam will therefore be filled with erosion protection materials. The degree of action of waves is dependent on the speed of wind, length of the reservoir duration of the wave and the depth of the dam. We considered this factors and decided to use riprap (this is a material has the shape of a boulder). These materials can be applied by either damping it from the crest down to the slope or by damping it and later applying it using excavators (SveMin, 2012, p.126).

Filter systems

This part depends on the composition of the dam. The distance between materials that are sensitive to frost and the core will be sufficient to prevent freezing.  Therefore, the width of the crest will provide space that will make it easy to transport material during construction and during the entire lifespan of the dam (SveMin, 2012, p.167).

Toe banks will improve stability at the downstream slope because it will consist of boulder sized materials that will reinforce the slope and prevent increase in pore water’s pressure (SveMin, 2012, p.135).

This is the distance between the dam crest and the level of reservoir. There will be sufficient dimensions to prevent wind from damaging the dam; also, water will run over the freeboard to prevent overtopping (ICOLD, 2010).

This is the outlet of the dam. This system will prevent water from spilling over a well as discharging excess water to prevent risks that are associated with high levels of water in the reservoir (ICOLD, 2010). This system will either consist of natural overflow or overflow threshold depending on the nature of the surrounding environment, pipes and conduits used.

The foundation of the dam will be designed in such a way that it will eliminate risks that are associated with leakages, internal soil erosion and instability by having a strong and safe foundation (SwedenergyAB, 2012, p. 260). The materials used in construction of the foundation will have a very high permeability. Researches done by GruvRIDAS (2012) have revealed that the ground is smoothened and compacted like the embankment when the materials used in the foundation have equivalent qualities as the embankment.

The conceptual design represents the overall dimensions of the reservoir. This method of design contributes to the extent of generalization and assumptions during the construction of the dam (Zeidan, 2014, p.333). A Dam height of one to five meters, a width of bottom 20 meters, length of bottom 100 meters and crest width five meters will be key parameters in the conceptual model (Cedergren, 2007, p. 127) The figure 2.0 below shows the conceptual design of a dam we will construct.

The width of the crest is five meters because it can allow any vehicle to pass through during construction (SveMin, 2012, p.176). The appearance of the dam crest is also influenced by the geographical location of the dam located in Boliden; this area experiences many months of winter (David, 2012). This means that there is a high probability that the materials in the crest will freeze. This scenario can be avoided only if the distance between crest and the sensitive construction features like core, drainage features and filters is sufficient enough (Fell, 2005, p.13). Research conducted by Jantzer (2009) have shown that materials found in the dam and the number of freezing hours will determine the depth of frost of dams found in Boliden area.

Support fill

The freezing depth in embankment dams in different geographic locations where mining activity takes place within Boliden Mineral AB (SveMin, 2012).

The degree of erosion damages caused wave run-up on the crest and presence of high waves due to wind in the reservoir will form two important parameters that will determine how the freeboard will be designed. Investigations done by ICOLD (2010) revealed that the above two parameters are the most relevant in the construction of small dams. Run-up can be described as the vertical height of the wave between the still - water level (SWL) and to the run up point on the crest. The equation below determines total sum of freeboard (SveMin, 2012,p. 144).

Hfreeb = R + Hinc

According to experiments done by Iroko (2006), a freeboard should have a dimension of 0.3 meters. However, ICOLD (2010) argues that the dimension of a freeboard should be 0.4meters. The difference in results is due to the fact that it is not easy to determine the parameter that provides the greatest stability in the dams.

The design of the discharge system will be not only be functional but will also enhance the provision of a safe dam (Cedergren, 2007, p.130). Natural materials will either be placed in concrete or different materials during its installation. The discharge system will have a capacity that will enable the dam to operate effective during normal conditions and during overflows by enhancing a constant outflow that has minimum turbulence (Akkose, 2008, p. 430).

The dam in Boliden area has a V-shape outlet that is covered with erosion protection material (Heide, 2009, p.234). The velocity of water was used to determine the width of the erosion material. It had a width of 100mm. The nature of this outlet is useful when carrying out visual inspections because it will be easy to inspect damages caused by erosion (Bakenaz, 2014, p.5). In addition to this, it will be easy erosion when water lead is above the construction.

The design of the dam will enable it to be resistant to erosion caused by wind and wave action (EM 111022200, 2006, p. 70). It is important to determine the flow if wind in the area of construction. The velocity of wind (25m/s) is nine meters above the reservoir in Boliden. (Amadel, 2008, p.56).Iroko (2006) enabled us to determine the dimension of material used to protect erosion using the angle of slope and height of the wave. Even though small reservoirs are not easily damaged by wind, this evaluation helps in protecting the dams from loads of ice and heavy machines (David, 2012, p.82). The protection materials will have a width of 0.6 meters. In addition to this, a filter will be designed with respect to properties of materials at the base of the dam. This filter will prevent transportation of material from the dam to the erosion protection.

Erosion protection material

The process that define the function of the dam and leakage limitations are important parameters used in designing lining system. The construction of small dam at Boliden assumed that the properties of the natural ground and the constructing materials were similar (SveMin, 2012, p.129). The reservoir was drained because it had materials that were very permeable. This was done using a geological linear system that reinforces the foundation of the reservoir with a material that prevents erosion of the clay soil layer as shown in figure 4.0 below (SveMin, 2012, p.132).

References

Akkose, M.(2008). Reservoir water level effects on nonlinear dynamic response of arch dams?, Journal of Fluids and Structures, Vol. 4, pp 418–435.

Amadel, B. (2008) Estimating Uplift in Cracks in Concrete Dams,? Proceedings, International Conference on Hydropower, Denver, Colorado, 24th July, pp. 54-58

Bakenaz, A. (2014) “Finite Element Modeling For Acoustic Reservoir-Dam-Foundation Coupled System”, International Symposium on Dams in a Global Environmental Challenges, ICOLD2014, Bali, Indonesia, pp.1-6.

Cedergren, H. (2007). Seepage, Drainage, and Flow Nets - 3rd ed. (3 ed.). United States of America: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, pp. 127-137

David, H. (2012) ?FEM Modeling Of Concrete Gravity Dams? Degree Project in Civil Engineering and Urban Management Department of Land and Water Resources Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), pp.77-89

EM 111022200 (2006); Design of Concrete Gravity Dams, Engineer Manual of the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Army Corps Publications Depot, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA, www.us.armycorps.engineers.com/engineer’s manual, pp. 67-78

Fell, R. (2005). Geotechnical Engineering of Dams. London UK: Taylor & Francis group plc, pp.10-13

GravRIDAS (2012) Dam failures statistical analysis - International Commission on Large

Dams Bulletin 99. Paris

Heide, H. (2009). Large Dams-Human and Environmental Benefits and Cost, University Of Wisconsin?Stevens Point, pp.233-245

ICOLD, (2012). Small Dams - Design, Surveillance and Rehabilitation Bulletin 157.

Iroko, A. (2006); Hysterical Analysis of Strawbale as an Infill Material Subjected to Seismic Loadings (Vibration), B. Eng. Project, Submitted to the Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin

Jantzer, I. (2009). Critical Hydraulic Gradients in Tailings Dams - Comparsion to Natural Analogies, vol. 2, pp. 89-93

SveMin. (2012). GruvRIDAS- Gruvindustrins riktlinjer för dammsäkerhet, version 2012, pp.113-179

SwedenergyAB. (2012). RIDAS2012 - Kraftföretagens riktlinjer för dammsäkerhet (pp. 260): SvenskEnergi

Vick, S. (2008). Planning, Design, and Analysis of Tailings Dams. Canada: John Wiley and Sons

Zeidan, B (2014) "Seismic Analysis of Dam-Reservoir-Foundation Interaction for Concrete Gravity Dams", ", International Symposium on Dams in Environmental Global Challenges" ICOLD2014, Bali, Indonesia, 6 th June, pp.333-344

Cite This Work

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:

My Assignment Help. (2021). Critical Analysis Of Conceptual Design Phase Of An Embankment Dam For Metal Ores Residue Water Storage. Retrieved from https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/coit20275-systems-science-and-engineering/conceptual-design-of-small-earth-fill-dam.html.

"Critical Analysis Of Conceptual Design Phase Of An Embankment Dam For Metal Ores Residue Water Storage." My Assignment Help, 2021, https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/coit20275-systems-science-and-engineering/conceptual-design-of-small-earth-fill-dam.html.

My Assignment Help (2021) Critical Analysis Of Conceptual Design Phase Of An Embankment Dam For Metal Ores Residue Water Storage [Online]. Available from: https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/coit20275-systems-science-and-engineering/conceptual-design-of-small-earth-fill-dam.html
[Accessed 29 March 2024].

My Assignment Help. 'Critical Analysis Of Conceptual Design Phase Of An Embankment Dam For Metal Ores Residue Water Storage' (My Assignment Help, 2021) <https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/coit20275-systems-science-and-engineering/conceptual-design-of-small-earth-fill-dam.html> accessed 29 March 2024.

My Assignment Help. Critical Analysis Of Conceptual Design Phase Of An Embankment Dam For Metal Ores Residue Water Storage [Internet]. My Assignment Help. 2021 [cited 29 March 2024]. Available from: https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/coit20275-systems-science-and-engineering/conceptual-design-of-small-earth-fill-dam.html.

Get instant help from 5000+ experts for
question

Writing: Get your essay and assignment written from scratch by PhD expert

Rewriting: Paraphrase or rewrite your friend's essay with similar meaning at reduced cost

Editing: Proofread your work by experts and improve grade at Lowest cost

loader
250 words
Phone no. Missing!

Enter phone no. to receive critical updates and urgent messages !

Attach file

Error goes here

Files Missing!

Please upload all relevant files for quick & complete assistance.

Plagiarism checker
Verify originality of an essay
essay
Generate unique essays in a jiffy
Plagiarism checker
Cite sources with ease
support
Whatsapp
callback
sales
sales chat
Whatsapp
callback
sales chat
close