Experimental Investigation on the Pressure Distribution Law and Calculation Method of Muddy Water with High Silt Content

Abstract

The pressure distribution law of muddy water with high silt content has great influence on the stress and strain calculation of the dam body. Currently, there is a few research studies referring to the calculation method of high silt content muddy water pressure, which leads to no reliable theoretical basis for muddy water pressure calculation in dam design. In this paper, muddy water with high silt content was prepared and the imitation tests and model tests were carried out to investigate the pressure distribution law. Based on the test result analysis, it is indicated that the muddy water with high silt content is also in a flowable and viscous state, which is consistent with the law of fluid behavior; the horizontal pressure is equal to the vertical pressure at the same position, and this relationship is generally time independent; through the test result analysis, a pressure formula for muddy water with high silt content is proposed; through comparison between the pressure formula-calculated results and monitoring data, it is indicated that the proposed pressure formula is applicable in the calculation of muddy water pressure. The formula can be a useful tool in the dam safety and design calculation.