In February 2017, the main and emergency spillways at the tallest dam (770 ft (235 m) in the U.S. failed, leading to the evacuation of 188,000 people living in Oroville, CA. Now a 1:50 scale model of the Oroville Dam spillway built by Utah State University’s Utah Water Research Laboratory will provide useful information about hydraulic conditions in and around the damaged spillway.
A team of 15 engineers and technicians constructed the working model in just 40 days.
The 100-ft-long, 60-ft-wide model replicates the spillway in its current state and features the terrain conditions that were formed following the damaging flow events.
The researchers are currently taking measurements on various sections of the model to determine depth of flows, wave action, pressures, velocity profiles, and more.
The dam model will provide useful information about hydraulic conditions in and around the damaged spillway. (Source: Utah State University)
“Our goal is to assist the design team in California in making the best decisions moving forward with data from the model,” said chief engineer Michael Johnson. “Data from the model will provide useful information that will help engineers there make better-informed decisions about repair and replacement.”
This is the second time a Utah Water Research Lab team has been involved with engineering efforts at Oroville Dam. Johnson helped design an engineering solution that improves the river valve outlet system in low-level reservoir conditions. His work helped alleviate the effects of drought from 2014-2016.
