Laboratory tests of an innovative check dam

Abstract

The flow of both solid and liquid particles, especially in mountain basins, is impulsive, not easily predictable and for this reason extremely dangerous. As to avoid the damages caused by this phenomenon, barriers are usually used. They are easy to install but are high maintenance and, in addition, they are aimed at blocking all the sediment, running the risk of under-designing the volume to be collected. Starting from this assumption, the need of a maintenance-friendly approach was investigated by Maccaferri Innovation Center with an innovative apparatus called Mini Skirt Check Dam (MSCD). This is a special dam which is made up of two parts: solid wings that have a vertical fissure in which a ring net is applied. The net is uplifted from the ground as to leave a part of the debris flowing and blocking only the top part of it. The research analyzed the design procedure of a standard weir and several laboratory tests were performed in cooperation with the University of Trento (Italy) that ended with the creation of a new approach against debris flow. The MSCD permits the cutting of the peak of the flow rate and, at the same time, blocking tree trunks and boulders. Laboratory tests conducted showed that the combination of weir and net slows down the debris and collects only the most dangerous part of the flow with a lower maintenance requirement and a good hydraulic performance.