Accurate and timely information on dam-break waves is essential for risk assessment and disaster mitigation. The unsteady flow interacting with in-channel obstacles renders numerical simulations computationally costly. This study establishes a machine learning (ML)-enhanced reduced-order model (ROM), which provides accelerated and accurate flow predictions. The model consists of three phases: dimensionality reduction, long short-term memory (LSTM) optimization and forecasting, and flow field reconstruction. The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) first reduces the complexity of the physical system while maintaining the dominant flow dynamics. Subsequently, an LSTM fine-tuned by the grey wolf optimization (GWO) predicts the evolution of the POD coefficients in the reduced-order space. Lastly, the flow field is reconstructed using the high-energy POD modes and the estimated amplitudes. The proposed GWO-LSTM-ROM is evaluated for time-dependent dam-break flows in a wetted channel with obstacles. Based on the comparison of millions of data samples, the approach is highly consistent with the high-fidelity full-order model, with a coefficient of determination over 0.99. Meanwhile, the average computational efficiency is improved by 86%. The main contribution of this work is to develop an improved method for fast and accurate modeling of complex flows, benefiting a wide range of applications, e.g., multiphase flows and fluid-structure interactions.

Large volumes of steel fibre reinforced shotcrete (sprayed concrete) and steel bolts are commonly used to support tunnels in hard rock. This generates a high CO2-footprint which must be reduced in order to decelerate the continuously increasing average temperature worldwide caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases. Thus, alternative design methods and the possibility to use other materials than steel are currently investigated. Work is ongoing on testing the load-bearing capacity of shotcrete reinforced with fibres of steel, basalt and synthetic materials. This also includes a comparison between tests using Round Determinate Panels (RDP) and four-point bending of beams. Moreover, the practical use of RDP testing as a quality control methodology is also investigated in situ. Here, the goal is to identify several shotcrete mixes suitable for use in tunnelling so that the right material and fibre volume can be used in the right place.

Large volumes of steel fibre reinforced shotcrete (sprayed concrete) and steel bolts are commonly used to support tunnels in hard rock. This generates a high CO2-footprint which must be reduced in order to decelerate the continuously increasing average temperature worldwide caused by the emissions of greenhouse gases. Thus, alternative design methods and the possibility to use other materials than steel are currently investigated. Work is ongoing on testing the load-bearing capacity of shotcrete reinforced with fibres of steel, basalt and synthetic materials. This also includes a comparison between tests using Round Determinate Panels (RDP) and four-point bending of beams. Moreover, the practical use of RDP testing as a quality control methodology is also investigated in situ. Here, the goal is to identify several shotcrete mixes suitable for use in tunnelling so that the right material and fibre volume can be used in the right place.

Med syfte att frigöra attraktiv markyta för ny bebyggelse finns det imånga svenska städer idag ett önskemål att förtäta den befintliga stadsmiljön. En sådan åtgärd kan dock resultera i minskade avstånd mellan byggnader och transportled, vilket kan medföra ökade krav med hänsyn till bland annat explosioner. För att skapa en optimal helhetslösning för sådana olycksscenarion behöver de tre delområdena riskhantering, explosionslast och strukturrespons samordnas på ett korrekt sätt. I dagens explosionshantering finns dock betydande brister bland både riskanalytiker och konstruktörer, något som ofta beror på otillräcklig kommunikation och kunskap.

The piano key (PK) weir is a cost-effective structure for flood discharge. Its typical layout comprises a rectangularly cranked crest in planform with up- and downstream overhangs. With the intention to enhance its hydraulic efficiency, the conventional weir is improved. The sloping floor of each key is modified with a downward semi-circle in the cross-section; each overhanging apex is thus assigned an elliptical crest. Thus, the developed crest length of the resulting weir becomes considerably extended. Experiments are performed to compare the hydraulic behaviors of the improved weir with a reference one. The models are 3D-printed to attain high manufacture precision. For the model dimensions chosen in the study, the developed crest is similar to 36% longer. The study demonstrates that the improvements in geometry lead to appreciably enhanced flow discharge capacity. Within the hydraulic range examined, the augment in flow discharge varies within a range from 30% to 53%. In terms of both discharge capacity and flow patterns, the improved weir clearly outperforms the conventional one. The elliptical overhang apexes noticeably extend the developed crest length. The streamlined upstream overhang without singularity and the lowered inlet key floor reduce the entrance energy loss and improve the inflow to the inlet key and the flow over the crest. The lowered floor also gives rise to extra water volume, which administers to the flow motion towards the crest. For the outlet key, its lowered floor facilitates the outflow and alleviates the liableness of local submergence at high discharges. If the footprint for spillway construction is limited or the increase in the reservoir water stage must be controlled, the use of a more effective PK weir for flood discharge has significant engineering implications.

Dammhaverier är mycket ovanliga och därför är kunskapen om brottförloppet vid ett potentiellt dammbrott begränsad. Uppstår brottet utan förvarning, eller finns tidiga tecken på allvarliga problem? Hur utvecklas brottsbräschen under brottförloppet? Detta är frågor som blivit än mer aktuella efter tre internationella dammhaverier under 2023. För att söka svar har en serie skalmodellförsök utförts där haverier av betongdammar simuleras. En viktig parameter vid säkerhetsbedömningen av en betongdamm består i att utvärdera dess stabilitet. Förenklat görs dettag enom att jämföra om dammkroppens vikt är tillräcklig för att stå emot lasten från vattnets tryck. Traditionellt beaktas enbart en mindre del av en betongdamm när dess stabilitet utvärderas men de nya försöken indikerar att det vore eftersträvansvärt att undersöka hela dammen samtidigt eftersom lasten fördelas mellan konstruktionsdelarna. Många betongdammars tillstånd övervakas idag genom automatiska mätningarav till exempel vattenstånd, förskjutningar och grundvattentryck. Dock finns det ingen standardiserad metod för att definiera larmgränser,vilket detta projekt syftar till att utveckla i framtiden.

Fibre-reinforced shotcrete (sprayed concrete) is one of the major components in the support system for tunnels in hard rock. Several empirical design methodologies have been developed over the years due to the complexity and many uncertainties involved in rock support design. Therefore, this paper aims to highlight how the choice of design methodology and fibre type impacts the structural capacity of the lining and the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). The paper starts with a review of different design methods. Then, an experimental campaign is presented in which the structural performance of shotcrete reinforced with various dosages of fibres made of steel, synthetic and basalt was compared. A case study is presented in which the permanent rock support is designed based on the presented design methods. Here, only the structural requirements were considered, and suitable dosages of fibres were selected based on the experimental results. The emission of GHG was calculated for all design options based on environmental product declarations for each fibre type. The result in this paper indicates that synthetic fibres have the greatest potential to lower the emissions of GHG in the design phase. Moreover, the choice of design method has a significant impact on the required dosage of fibres.

Although the failure of a concrete dam is a complex and highly dynamic process, the current safety assessments of concrete gravity and buttress dams rely on a simplified 2D stability analysis, which neglects the load redistribution due to 3D monolith interactions and the valley shape. In addition, the estimation of breach parameters in concrete dams is based on assumptions rather than analyses, and better prediction methods are needed. Model tests have been conducted to increase the understanding of the failure behavior of concrete dams. A scale model buttress dam, with a scale of 1:15, consisting of 5 monoliths that were 1.2 m in height and 4 m in width, was constructed and loaded to failure using water pressure. The model dam had detachable abutment supports and shear keys to permit variations in the 3D behavior. The results showed that the shear transfer was large between the monoliths and that the failure of a single dam monolith is unlikely. A greater lateral restraint gives not only a higher failure load but also a better indication of impending failure. These findings suggest that the entire dam, including its boundary conditions, should be considered during a stability assessment. The results also suggest that the common assumption in dam safety codes that a single monolith fails during flooding analysis is not conservative. The dataset obtained provides a foundation for the future development of dam-monitoring alarm limits and for predictive models of dam-breaching processes.

Dam failures may have catastrophic consequences, including the release of largeamounts of water, significant property damage, and loss of life. However, safety assessments ofconcrete gravity and buttress dams often rely on simplified methods that do not consider the interactionbetween monoliths, the shape of the foundation or the presence of stiff abutments. Numericalmodeling can be a valuable tool for analyzing the stability of these dams, but it can bedifficult to validate these models due to a lack of documented dam failures. This paper presentsthe results of a numerical study examining the ability of dynamic finite element analyses to simulatedam failures. The study used the results from a series of physical model tests as a case studyfor validation. It was found that the numerical model was able to accurately reproduce the failuremode and breach development observed in the physical model tests and capture the effect of theloading rate on the failure mode and time for the failure to develop. Simulations were also performedin prototype scale to verify that the model tests were representative of a real dam failure.Further research is needed to determine the reliability of the numerical models under differentloading conditions and in realistic geological settings. However, these findings suggest that numericalmodeling can be a valuable tool for analyzing the stability of concrete gravity and buttressdams and predicting the development of failures.