Uma síntese acerca de estudos de modelos reduzidos de barragens

Abstract

This work aims to present a brief review of studies of hydraulic dams and the importance of reduced models. For this, we choose to search the history of dams and existing reduced models. A reduced model, two-dimensional (scale 1:100) was made, to be installed on channel hydraulics, to obtain the Froude numbers (fr) with different hydraulic loads, and the three-dimensional model, with determination of scales, so as to be inserted into the Hydraulics Laboratory at UTFPR - Campus Pato Branco, and its execution, using concrete. Assay was performed with twodimensional profiles in the channel hydraulic University, with two types: the Creager type and the trapezoidal (with sharp edges). The profile of the Creager type obtained better results than the trapezoidal profile, since it showed no occurrence of liquid vein. But the construction of the three-dimensional concrete dam, due to the difficulty of mounting forms with the Creager profile, it was decided in the mounting of trapezoidal shape, which will have the edge on the downstream slope, the conformation of the intersections of the edges (rounding). With the test on channel hydraulics, it was identified that the best values of hydraulic loads between 4 to 5 cm, but it is the teacher, in the practice lesson, using the gate valve, which will determine the flowrate and the hydraulics loads. The dam constructed had the following dimensions: 53.4 cm, and 15.52 cm to 58.3 cm crest and base. The study showed the importance of testing models before construction of any project. The reduced models arise in this scenario with a didactical purpose and also as an caution in predicting the behavior of structures.