Rationale for engineering activities to prevent and reduce adverse impact of accidents at low-head hydraulic structures

Abstract

Abstract The paper considers the safety of operating hydraulic structures for reclamation. Such research is imperative today due to the high risk of accidents at such structures. Meeting the technical, economic, environmental, and aesthetic requirements to hydraulic structures is absolutely necessary; otherwise, significant damages may ensue. Hydraulic structures (HS) are operated in two ways of organizing the maintenance and repairs: periodic inspections to check the condition of HS elements and find whether repairs are necessary; and carrying out pre-scheduled repairs and adjustments. Analysis of the two methods reveals that scheduled preventive repairs can ensure the fail-safe and reliable operation of hydraulic structures, and are therefore fundamental to proper operation.