UC Berkeley

Abstract

3D BLOCK ERODIBILITY: DYNAMICS OF ROCK-WATER INTERACTION

IN ROCK SCOUR

by

Michael Freeman George

Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering – Civil & Environmental Engineering

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA at BERKELEY

Professor Nicholas Sitar, Chair

Erosion of rock by flowing water is an integral process in the evolution of natural landscapes as well as a critical hazard for key infrastructure such as dams, spillways, bridges and tunnels. The removal of individual blocks of rock is one of the primary mechanisms by which rock scour can occur. This research examined the influence of 3D geologic structure on erodibility of rock blocks with the aim to understand the basic mechanics of the process as well as to develop a predictive framework for block erodibility. To do this, a multifaceted research program was established. Field investigation of a prototype site in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in northern California was used as a basis for the development of an extensive series of hydraulic model experiments, which were complemented by theoretical deterministic and stochastic analyses based on 3D block theory.

Past experimental studies have been limited to simplified cubic or rectangular block geometries in laboratory settings, with very little data regarding hydrodynamic pressures surrounding 3D blocks and subsequent block response to hydrodynamic loading. For more complex block shapes (as often found in nature), such simplifications in geometry can be problematic as the 3D orientation of discontinuities within the rock mass largely influence block removability, kinematics and stability. Accordingly, a major focus of this research was to obtain a high resolution experimental data set from both field and laboratory settings for hydraulic and rock mass parameters pertaining to 3D non-cubic block geometries.

Field work was carried out in a prototype setting at an actively eroding unlined rock spillway at a dam site in northern California. High resolution rock mass data was obtained using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning which permitted statistical characterization of rock mass parameter variability for use in a probabilistic scour prediction model. Two instrumented artificial rock block were cast in existing block molds to capture hydrodynamic pressures and block displacements during spill events. Climatic conditions in northern California, however, prevented reservoir discharges on the blocks such that no data to date have been collected.

A scaled physical hydraulic model, loosely representing conditions at the above field site was also performed. The advantage of the laboratory model was the ability to investigate a broad range of variables and flow conditions not readily achievable in a field setting. For the model, an instrumented 3D block mold was constructed that could be rotated with respect to the flow direction to study the influence of discontinuity orientation on block erodibility. As would be expected, the block erodibility threshold was found to be highly dependent on the flow direction. This can be attributed to changes in kinematic constraints associated with the block mold geometry in the downstream direction as well as the relative profile of block protrusion above the channel bottom. Three separate block response types were observed which are closely associated with block kinematic resistance. Pressure values, represented by the dimensionless average dynamic pressure coefficient, Cp, were determined as a function of the block mold orientation, turbulence intensity, block protrusion height, and flow velocity. Overall, the average hydrodynamic pressures on block faces were found to be adequate in the evaluation model block stability. Accordingly, the data presented herein may be applied to a variety of flow conditions.

A reliability-based, block theory framework was also developed for evaluation of 3D block erodibility given parameter uncertainty associated with the inherent variability within the rock scour process. Block theory provides a rigorous analytical methodology to identify removable blocks, determine potential failure modes, and assess 3D block stability. Block stability is evaluated in a pseudo-static manner using block theory limit equilibrium and kinematic constraint equations. Theoretical predictions for block erodibility threshold compare well with those obtained from hydraulic model testing for both high and low turbulence flows. Improved prediction was observed for some cases when a mobilized joint friction angle was used.

Applicability of the reliability-based, block theory methodology was demonstrated through two example analyses for the field site in northern California. Removable blocks from the spillway channel were identified and analyzed deterministically to determine their erodibility threshold. Variability in rock mass parameters was included based on statistical analysis of the LiDAR data set to calculate the failure probability of the block with the lowest erodibility threshold. FORM analysis for parameter importance indicates block protrusion height, followed by rock joint orientations and flow velocity, are the most influential variables on block stability, while joint friction angle is relatively insignificant.

From a design standpoint, the benefit of the proposed methodology is that 3D, site-specific geologic structure information can be incorporated into evaluation of rock mass erodibility. Variability in site parameters can be addressed in a probabilistic manner to classify locations most susceptible to erosion as well as identify the most influential variables affecting rock block stability. This can lead to more efficient scour remediation designs as well as more focused field and laboratory efforts to investigate parameters with the most impact on the system. Furthermore, reliability data can be useful for designers and infrastructure owners in decision making and management of risk at a specific site.