THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE CONCRETE FUSE PLUGS WEIR

Abstract

Reservoir dams are directly exposed to the impacts of climate change. These effects manifest as prolonged drought periods characterized by highly irregular inflows, intense rainfall events, and extreme floods. Such conditions contribute, among other consequences, to the early siltation of reservoirs and to the exceedance of spillway capacities in existing dams.

One of the feasible solutions to increase the storage capacity of reservoirs and enhance the safety level of existing dams involves reshaping the crest of the existing spillway. This approach involves a slight lowering of the original crest, followed by a substantial elevation using fuse devices. This configuration makes it possible to raise the normal reservoir level while ensuring safe and controlled behavior during extreme flood events.

The principle of the fuse system is based on the arrangement of independent concrete blocks placed side by side on the spillway crest. These elements exhibit slightly different characteristics so that each block overturns at a specific upstream water level, thereby ensuring a progressive increase in the discharged flow. This device, referred to as Concrete Fuse Plugs, was first investigated between 2004 and 2006. According to the literature, no design method has yet been established for this type of weir.

In order to better understand the functioning of this device and to propose a simple preliminary design method, theoretical and experimental studies were carried out at the University of Biskra. A comparative analysis between these two approaches was also conducted to assess their consistency.

In order to better understand the functioning of this device and to propose a simple preliminary design method, theoretical and experimental studies were carried out at the University of Biskra. A comparative analysis between these two approaches was also conducted to assess their consistency.