Study on Characteristic Analysis of Closed-type Sabo Dam with a Flap due to Dynamic Force of Debris Flow

Abstract

In recent years, many research studies have examined efficient function of sabo dams, which have a great impact on ecology and landscape. In that research, attention to the aspect of analysis of impact force associated with debris flow is still lacking. The front part of the flow is very important and complex in the case of debris flow where there is an accumulation of large boulders. It is important to control or dampen the energy of the frontal part of a debris flow for the safety of the downstream area because the impact pressure of debris flow is much greater than that of clear fluid. Therefore an alternative design and its resistance against debris flow impact force deserve investigation. The objectives of this study are to analyze, firstly, the function of the proposed closed-type dam with a flap, then to compare the vertical pressure distribution and total pressure with other types of available dams and finally, to determine the empirical coefficients of the hydrodynamic and solid collision models. This comparison demonstrates the future importance of the proposed sabo dam. The results from the experimental data clearly show that the proposed dam type has the ability to capture more sediment sustaining less force than the without flap dams under the same debris flow. Furthermore, the empirical coefficients of hydrodynamic and solid collision models were proposed and compared with available coefficients