Inflatable rubber dam
Encyclopedia
Inflatable rubber dams are cylindrical rubber fabrics placed across channels, streams and weir
or dam crests to raise the upstream water level when inflated. The membrane is a multi-layer fabric made of synthetic fibre (usually nylon
)and rubberised on one or both sides. The fabric is quite flexible and yet exhibits good wear-resistance characteristics. A layer of stainless steel mesh or ceramic chips can be embedded in the surface layer to reduce or prevent vandal damage.
The inflatable flexible membrane dams (IFMD, or rubber dams) were developed in the early 1950s - Flexidam - Imbertson. They are installed in stream and river beds, generally being bolted into a concrete foundation. They are used to divert water for irrigation
, temporarily raising existing dams, flood control
, water retention for aquifer recharge, reducing or preventing salt water intrusion into fresh water areas, protect low-lying coastal areas from tidal flooding, enabling fish passage past diversion works, by deflation, and for sewage retention/separation during flood events.
Inflatable dams can be filled with water, air or both. They are low pressure - typically 4 to 10 psi. The present trend suggests an increased use of air-filled membranes because they can be deflated or inflated more rapidly, and they are little affected by freezing conditions. Characteristic dimensions cover typically lengths of about 100 m with specially-made membranes up to 200-m wide, dam heights usually less than 5-m but some special designs might be up to 10-m high. The membrane is usually deflated for large overflows. It is however common practice to allow small spillages over the inflated dam. During overflows greater than 20% over-topping, vibrations might result from fluid-structure interactions, and the instabilities might damage or destroy the rubber membrane. Several failures were experienced (e.g. CHANSON 1996). In practice, a deflector (i.e. fin) is installed on the downstream face of the rubber dam to project the nappe away from the membrane, hence preventing rubber membrane vibrations.
There are more than 2000 inflatable rubber dams around the world. Durability can be excellent: recently, a 35 year old dam in eastern Ontario, Canada was replaced, and while still functional in both freezing winter conditions when it was air filled, and water filled in summer, it was deemed to have served its useful life, and was replaced.
and the Zwarte Water
in the Netherlands. This dam is build to protect the villages against the rising water of the Ketelmeer
. It is the biggest inflatable rubber dam of Europe
.
The inflatable dam has three inflatable parts. The data of each inflatable part are:
. The dam is located just below the confluence of the Western and Main Branches of the Susquehanna
, between the towns of Shamokin Dam
and Sunbury, Pennsylvania
.
The dam is 2,100 feet (640 m) long. When it is raised in the summer time, it creates the 3,000 acre (12 km²) Lake Augusta, which is used for recreation. The dam and lake are part of Shikellamy State Park
.
In 2001, the dam was renamed for Adam T. Bower, Chief Clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from 1967–68 and Director of Services during the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1967-68, by Act 2001-5 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
.
The longest single span (190 m)rubber dam is located in Molino de Suso, Spain.
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
or dam crests to raise the upstream water level when inflated. The membrane is a multi-layer fabric made of synthetic fibre (usually nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
)and rubberised on one or both sides. The fabric is quite flexible and yet exhibits good wear-resistance characteristics. A layer of stainless steel mesh or ceramic chips can be embedded in the surface layer to reduce or prevent vandal damage.
The inflatable flexible membrane dams (IFMD, or rubber dams) were developed in the early 1950s - Flexidam - Imbertson. They are installed in stream and river beds, generally being bolted into a concrete foundation. They are used to divert water for irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
, temporarily raising existing dams, flood control
Flood control
In communications, flood control is a feature of many communication protocols designed to prevent overwhelming of a destination receiver. Such controls can be implemented either in software or in hardware, and will often request that the message be resent after the receiver has finished...
, water retention for aquifer recharge, reducing or preventing salt water intrusion into fresh water areas, protect low-lying coastal areas from tidal flooding, enabling fish passage past diversion works, by deflation, and for sewage retention/separation during flood events.
Inflatable dams can be filled with water, air or both. They are low pressure - typically 4 to 10 psi. The present trend suggests an increased use of air-filled membranes because they can be deflated or inflated more rapidly, and they are little affected by freezing conditions. Characteristic dimensions cover typically lengths of about 100 m with specially-made membranes up to 200-m wide, dam heights usually less than 5-m but some special designs might be up to 10-m high. The membrane is usually deflated for large overflows. It is however common practice to allow small spillages over the inflated dam. During overflows greater than 20% over-topping, vibrations might result from fluid-structure interactions, and the instabilities might damage or destroy the rubber membrane. Several failures were experienced (e.g. CHANSON 1996). In practice, a deflector (i.e. fin) is installed on the downstream face of the rubber dam to project the nappe away from the membrane, hence preventing rubber membrane vibrations.
There are more than 2000 inflatable rubber dams around the world. Durability can be excellent: recently, a 35 year old dam in eastern Ontario, Canada was replaced, and while still functional in both freezing winter conditions when it was air filled, and water filled in summer, it was deemed to have served its useful life, and was replaced.
Ramspol balgstuw
The balgstuw near Ramspol is an inflatable rubber dam. It is situated between the KetelmeerKetelmeer
The Ketelmeer , is the tongue of the IJsselmeer into which the IJssel actually drains, it is situated between the polders Noordoostpolder and East Flevoland, and connects the river IJssel to the lake IJsselmeer...
and the Zwarte Water
Zwarte Water
The Zwarte Water is a river in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is formed just south of the city of Zwolle when two streams, the Soestwetering and the Nieuwe Wetering, merge...
in the Netherlands. This dam is build to protect the villages against the rising water of the Ketelmeer
Ketelmeer
The Ketelmeer , is the tongue of the IJsselmeer into which the IJssel actually drains, it is situated between the polders Noordoostpolder and East Flevoland, and connects the river IJssel to the lake IJsselmeer...
. It is the biggest inflatable rubber dam of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
The inflatable dam has three inflatable parts. The data of each inflatable part are:
- Situated 4,65 m under NAPNormaal Amsterdams PeilNormaal Amsterdams Peil or Amsterdam Ordnance Datum is a vertical datum in use in large parts of Western Europe. Originally created for use in the Netherlands, it was adopted by Prussia in 1879 under the name Normalnull, and in 1955 by other European countries.Mayor Johannes Hudde of Amsterdam in...
- Maximum height of the dam 3,55 m above NAP
- Height 10 m
- Length down 60 m, above 80 m
- Threshold width 15,4 m
- Length fabric 24,3 m
- Capacity dam: air 3.500.000 liter, water 3.500.000 liter
- Thickness fabric 1,6 cm
- Production BridgestoneBridgestoneThe is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
, JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... - Weight fabric 19,3 kg/m2
- Weight dam 33 tons
- Minimal lifetime fabric 25 year
- Closing time max. 60 min.
- Time to empty max. 180 min.
- Closing water level + 0.50 NAP
Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam
The Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam (formerly known as the Sunbury Fabridam) is the world's longest inflatable damDam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
. The dam is located just below the confluence of the Western and Main Branches of the Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, between the towns of Shamokin Dam
Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania
Shamokin Dam is a small borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is derived from a dam that was built across the Susquehanna River in the 19th century. The dam supported steamboat ferries run by Ira T. Clement, which transported goods and people between Shamokin Dam and the...
and Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
.
The dam is 2,100 feet (640 m) long. When it is raised in the summer time, it creates the 3,000 acre (12 km²) Lake Augusta, which is used for recreation. The dam and lake are part of Shikellamy State Park
Shikellamy State Park
Shikellamy State Park is a Pennsylvania state park located at the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is divided into two sections. The older part, on a bluff on the western bank of the river, is the Shikellamy...
.
In 2001, the dam was renamed for Adam T. Bower, Chief Clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
from 1967–68 and Director of Services during the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1967-68, by Act 2001-5 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
.
The longest single span (190 m)rubber dam is located in Molino de Suso, Spain.
Sources
- Hubert ChansonHubert ChansonHubert Chanson is a professor in hydraulic engineering and applied fluid mechanics in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland since 1990...
(1996). Some Hydraulic Aspects during Overflow above Inflatable Flexible Membrane Dam, Report CH47/96, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Queensland, Australia, May, 60 pages (ISBN 0 86776 644 1). - Hubert ChansonHubert ChansonHubert Chanson is a professor in hydraulic engineering and applied fluid mechanics in the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland since 1990...
(1998). Hydraulics of Rubber Dam Overflow : a Simple Design Approach, Proc. 13th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 13–18 December, M.C. Thompson & K. Hourigan Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 255–258.