Impact of drift ice on concrete lining of open water conveyance channel

Abstract: Large blocks of drift ice have posed a strong impact on the open channels in the long-distance water delivery projects in the alpine regions. The drift ice is easy to form with the different speeds and compression strength in the high latitudes of northwestern China, especially the north of 35°N latitude. Particularly, the ice period lasts for 4 to 5 months in the cold and dry winter, covering from the freezing in November to the open in the following spring. The long-term collision of drift ice can cause some serious damage to the concrete lining of an open channel, such as cracking or peeling of the surface. The lining structure can result in different degrees of damage and deformation, even a threat to the long-term stability of water supply, including the safe operation of the open channel, irrigation of farmland, and water use for humans and animals. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the impact of the drift ice on the open delivery channels in the long-distance water delivery projects in the alpine regions. A collision model of the drift ice and open channels was also established as a water-air coupling medium using the ANSYS/LS-DYNA platform. Specifically, the collision motion equation of drift ice in the open channel was obtained, according to the display of time integration. The contact-collision process was assumed as a symmetric penalty function. The fluid-structure coupling calculation was then implemented considering the coupling effect between water-air-flow ice-open channels. After that, LS-DYNA SOLVER software was used to simulate the collision and extrusion of drift ice and open channel under different working conditions. As such, the degree of the collision was classified to evaluate the damage caused by the drift ice to the lining of the open channel. An indoor model test was carried out to verify the model. A damage law of drift ice was thus found in the water-air coupling medium when colliding with the open channel. The results showed that there was an approximate Pseudo-Voigt function peak curve relationship for the maximum equivalent stress and the maximum displacement in the X direction of the impact of the ice velocity on the open channel lining. Besides, there was an approximately linear relationship for the maximum equivalent stress and the maximum displacement in the X direction of the impact of drift ice compression strength on the lining of open channels. Furthermore, a combination interval posed a significant impact on the open channel lining, where the compressive strength of the flowing ice was 1.825-3.199 MPa, and the speed of the flowing ice was 3.5-4.5 m/s. This equivalent stress value of impact was 4.3-16.8 MPa, and the maximum displacement value in the X direction was 2.59×10-5-5.52×10-5 m. More importantly, a two-factor combination was posed the greatest impact on the open channel lining impact, where the flow ice compression strength of 3.059 MPa, and the flow ice velocity of 4.0 m/s. This equivalent stress value of impact was 16.8 MPa, and the maximum displacement value in the X direction was 5.52×10-5 m. By contrast, the combination interval presented a fewer outstanding impact on the open channel lining, where the drift ice velocity of 0.5-1.0 m/s, and the compressive strength was 1.825-2.375 MPa. This equivalent stress of impact was 0.7-2.8 MPa, and the maximum displacement in the X direction was 0.24×10-5-0.52×10-5 m. Therefore, there was a significant correlation between the temperature and the compressive strength of drift ice, while the flow velocity and the speed of drift ice. Correspondingly, the influence of the ice load needed to be considered in the design stage of the open channel lining structure. The findings can also provide sound theoretical and technical support to the safe operation of long-distance water transportation projects for the alpine regions in winter.