Prediction of Reservoir Bank Collapse Based on the Limit Equilibrium Theory

Abstract

The prediction of reservoir bank collapse width is a unique problem encountered in the construction of hydropower projects. Existing empirical graphic methods are based on the final state of bank collapse and can be used to predict only bank collapse width, and they thus do not adequately reflect the characteristics of the bank collapse process. To solve this problem, a prediction model for bank collapse width based on the limit equilibrium theory was established, and the key parameters and bank collapse process of the model were analyzed. The results reveal the necessity of selecting a reasonable underwater accumulation rate when predicting the bank collapse width using the limit equilibrium theory. At a constant ratio of water depth to bank slope height, the underwater accumulation rate increases with increasing bank slope height, with a linear relationship between them. In contrast, the bank slope angle has little impact on bank collapse width. Specifically, it mainly affects the width of the first bank collapse but has little effect on the width of subsequent bank collapses. With an increase in the bank slope angle, the bank collapse width fluctuates and rises. The prediction model of bank collapse width based on the limit equilibrium theory can better explain the time-dependent behavior of bank collapse. The research results are of high significance for the prediction of loess bank collapse.