Barragens são utilizadas há séculos para diversas finalidades. Em diversas barragens os vertedouros são constituídos de degraus com o objetivo de aumentar a dissipação de energia. A presente pesquisa objetiva a caracterização dos esforços atuantes em vertedouros em degraus, através da análise da variação das pressões atuantes ao longo da calha e suas distribuições na faces do degraus. Com esse objetivo, são realizadas análises sobre modelos de vertedouros com declividade de 1V:0,75H e degraus de 3, 6 e 9 centímetros. São analisados os campos de pressões nos degraus e comparados com os resultados disponíveis na bibliografia. Também são propostos modelos para previsão de pressões nos patamares e espelhos dos degraus bem como dos esforços resultantes. Além disso, são realizadas transposições dos resultados para a escala de protótipo, inclusive com a análise da possibilidade de cavitação na estrutura. Como constatação geral sobre as pressões nos espelhos verifica-se que os esforços de tração e compressão têm magnitudes relativamente semelhantes, sendo mais intensas as pressões negativas. Sobre as pressões máximas nos patamares, destaca-se que os valores máximos de compressão ocorreram no final da calha, percebendo-se que as menores vazões geraram maiores valores de coeficientes de pressões. As variações da compressão nas faces dos patamares apresentam crescimento, no sentido da extremidade com o espelho acima deste para o vértice com o espelho abaixo do mesmo patamar. Nas faces dos espelhos, percebe-se que os mais extremos de tração são observados na parte superior, próximo à quina com os patamares. / Dams have been used throughout the centuries for a plethora of purposes. Several designs employ steps on the spillways in order to increase the power dissipation. The present research aims to characterize the forces acting on stepped spillways by analyzing both the variation of pressures acting along the pipeline and their distributions on the faces of the steps. In order to achieve this purpose, observations and discussions regarding spillways models with slope characterized as 1V: 0.75H and steps ranging from 3 to 9 centimeters are conducted. The pressure fields measured in the steps were analyzed and compared with results available in the literature. Sub sequentially, models to predict pressures on the faces of the steps and the resulting efforts were proposed. Finally, transpositions were performed on a prototype scale. Generally, it was found that the magnitude of tensile and compressive forces on the vertical faces are relatively similar, being the negative pressure slightly higher on all cases. During the experiments, it was observed that compression forces increased thought the length of the step’s horizontal face, peaking at the edge. It was also noticed that lower flows generated higher pressure coefficients. The measured compression on the horizontal faces of the step and its variation increase towards the edge of the step. It is perceived that the maximum tensile is observed on the top of the step’s vertical faces, near the corner with the horizontal faces.

The Upper Niger Basins (UNB) and the Inner Niger Delta (IND) are integral parts of the Niger River Basin, which flows through 10 countries and constitutes the third longest river in Africa. Natural climate variability and human interventions are two major factors affecting the hydrological regime in the UNB and IND. This study focuses on the later factor, by assessing the hydrological impacts of key existing and planned manmade structures and irrigation schemes in the UNB: the Sélingué (existing dam in Mali), four variants of the Fomi/Moussako dam (planned in Guinea), and Office du Niger (irrigation scheme located in Mali). The Fomi /Moussako dam will be located in the headwaters of the UNB and therefore, is expected to alter the hydrological regime in large parts of the watershed. Expected impacts include a reduction of the flood peak which will adversely affect critical ecosystems in the IND, and higher flows directly downstream of the dams in the dry season to sustain irrigation. These higher flows will, however, be consumed by Office du Niger irrigation scheme, leading to possible severe water shortages downstream of the irrigation scheme and in the IND. This is likely to affect the Malian economy and the poorest parts of its population, as the IND is crucial for the socio-economic and ecological preservation and development of the population surrounding it. The hydrological impacts of the dams and the irrigation scheme were evaluated in this study by developing a model of the IND and UNB using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). After the model was calibrated, the effects of the dams and the irrigation scheme on selected flow statistics (mean and standard deviation) were determined at fourteen hydrological stations. In general, the results have shown that (1) the Fomi/Moussako dam will noticeably reduce the downstream high flows, and reduce the average flow; (2) if the Fomi/Moussako dam was to be built, the alternatives with the least storage volume (Moussako 388.5') will have the least impacts on the downstream flows. To assist in related decision making for various users, a Decision Support System (DSS) was also developed. The goal of the DSS is to help users analyze the effects of dams and irrigation on the flow regime by performing a comparative analysis (presence and absence of dams and irrigation in the river). A number of potential adaptation measures were also proposed.

Coletas de amostras de água para o estudo do fitoplâncton foram feitas, quinzenalmente, de outubro de 1977 a setembro de 1978, na Represa Billings, em São Bernardo do Campo, Estado de São Paulo. Foram amostrados dois locais: estação 1, no braço do Rio Grande e estação 2, no braço do Rio Pequeno. Procurou-se efetuar um estudo sazonal característico de clima tropical e subtropical ao abranger períodos consecutivos de chuva e estiagem. A distribuição do \"standing-stock\" do fitoplâncton foi feita por contagem de organismos em UPA/ml e por determinação da clorofila a. Procurou-se relacionar os resultados obtidos referentes ao fitoplâncton com as variáveis fÍsicas e químicas estudadas, quais sejam: temperatura, cor, turbidez, transparência, condutividade elétrica, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, oxigênio consumido, amônia, nitrito, fosfato e sílica. O máximo quantitativo da população fitoplanctônica foi encontrado no período de estiagem. Qualitativamente, foi obtido no período de chuva. Geralmente, predominaram Mougeotia sp. (Chlorophyceae) na estação 1 e Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanophyceae) na estação 2, ambas apresentaram variação sazonal acentuada, o que nao aconteceu com as Euglenophyceae, as Chrysophyceae e as Dinophyceae. A temperatura influencia a distribuição quantitativa do fitoplâncton; quando foram registradas temperaturas altas a abundância de fitoplâncton foi menor. Nas estações estudadas, os teores de amônia e nitrato apresentaram variação sazonal acentuada, sendo máximos no período de estiagem. Portanto, houve coincidência no desenvolvimento quantitativo do fitoplâncton e nutrientes (amônia e nitrato). Houve uma correspondência evidente entre os picos de oxigênio dissolvido e a porcentagem de saturação desse gás na água com o pico de fitoplâncton total, evidenciando a contribuição de oxigênio pela fotossíntese. Os dados obtidos referentes ao \"standingstock\" de fitoplâncton (clorofia a e contagem de organismos), nutrientes (amônia e nitrato) e oxigênio consumido indicam que a Represa Billings constitui um ambiente eutrófico. / Phytoplankton samples were collected every two weeks at two stations for a period of one year (Oct., 1977 - Sept., 1978). The station 1 is located at Rio Grande and station 2 at Rio Pequeno in the Billings Reservoir, São Bernardo do Campo, State of São Paulo. The standing stock of the phytoplankton was determined by organisms counting and chlorophyll-a determination. An attempt was made to correlate phytoplankton with environmental factors, such as: tide, temperature, color, turbidity, water transparence, electric condutivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, consumed oxygen, ammonia, nitrits, nitrates, phosphates and silica. The phytoplankton consisted mainly of Mougeotia sp. (Chlorophyceae) at station 1 and Microcytis aeruginosa (Cyanophyceae) at station 2. Both groups showed a marked seasonal variation, but Euglenophyceae, Chrysophyceae, and Dinophyceae did not show this pattern. The maximum of phytoplankton was recorded during the draught season. Qualitatively, however, the phytoplankton maximum was recorded during the rainy season. It was also noted an influence of the temperature over the quantitative distribution of the phytoplankton; at high temperatures the phytoplankton abundance was less significant. The ammonia and nitrates concentrations also showed a marked seasonal variation, their peaks attained during the drought period. Therefore, there was a coincidence in the quantitative development of phytoplankton and the amount of nutrients (ammonia and nitrates). The peaks of the dissolved oxygen content of the water, and of the oxygen saturation values were very much related to the phytoplankton peak, showing the oxygen contribution by photosinthesis. The data obtained which refer to the standing stock of phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a and organism counting), nutrients (ammonia and nitrate) and the consumed oxygen indicate that the Billings Reservoir constitutes an eutrophic environment.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Coursework and Research Report. Johannesburg, March 2016. / A vegetation survey was carried out in July 2014 on the substrates of 5 tailings dams by selecting 10 sampling sites which were previously used as sampling plots during the 1996/97 survey of Weiersbye et al. (2006). At each sampling site a 100m transect horizontally across the substrate and covering all levels of the tailings dam from the flat top to the toe paddock was established. Each transect was surveyed for the frequency of the species occurring and these were categorized based on their mode of colonization (natural, intentionally introduced and persisting) while tailings were collected by digging approximately 20cm into the ground for soil sample collection per substrate. The recorded species were then divided using Raunkier’s classification categories into growth forms and a comparison was done between the two surveys (2014 versus 1996/7) to identify the species that were lost, those that were still persisting and the new ones that had colonized over time. A total of 51 species (over 15ha) in 36 genera within 14 families were recorded on the tailings dams, compared to 168 species (over 765ha), 98 genera and 59 families found in the previous study. Families with the most species in 2014 were similar to those of the 1996/97 survey, following the dominance order of Poaceae >Asteraceae >Fabaceae >Anacardiaceae, with the percentage frequency of grasses (Poaceae) noted to have almost doubled over this period. Compared to 6 species common across the substrates in the previous study, the later survey recorded 12 common species (6 of the species occurring on all substrates) but overall both studies found vegetation cover to be high (above 65%) on flat tops and berms with species richness being high on the toe paddock>slopes>tops and berms and substrates susceptible to low nutritional (N,P,K,C) value. Indigenous plant species (54.9%) were dominating the tailing dams and were mostly perennials (82.3%) that were naturally colonizing and persisting (72.5%) on the tailings dams (similar to the 1996/97 survey), while alien (45.1%) plant species comprised annuals/biennials (17.7%) that were intentionally introduced (27.5%) prior to the 1996/97 survey by contractors. The ceased ameliorative initiatives since the first survey are believed to have significantly contributed to a decrease in herbaceous species richness, which formed the majority of the introduced species in the former survey (58.8% compared to 29.4%) as they depended on the supplementary additions of fertilizers and lime. Approximately 117 species, 62 genera and 45 families (including Chenopodiaceae, which was dominant) were lost over the 17 years period, the majority of these were introduced prior to the 1996/97 vegetation survey, while only Ficus sp. was the only new species colonizing apart from the increase noted in alien species (some invasive in nature). The decrease in species richness has encouraged woody and semi-woody (35.3%) and grasses (35.3%) to dominate the slimes reaffirming their potential as temporal and long term rehabilitation species that have developed physiological tolerance to acidic conditions, salinity and heavy metal pollution. In conclusion, this study has identified the species that can be used for phytoremediation to provide long terms solutions for dust, air and water pollution and soil erosion suppression for rehabilitation of these contaminated lands (Appendix 8). The survey also helps to identify species that are able to naturally colonize and persist on the tailings dams without supplements, making them ideal economic species to use for rehabilitation. Results also highlight the negative impacts of the lack of ameliorative supplementations, which in turn affects the floristic composition and structure on these tailings dams over time. Keywords: Aerial cover, Macronutrients, Tailings dams, Species richness, Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) and Vegetation survey / LG2017

Collapse and cracking of debris earth embankment dams is a serious problem in areas of the arid Western United States. The use of geogrids is evaluated in this thesis as a possible solution to prevent or reduce the amount of damage to the structures from collapse and cracking. An apparatus was designed, constructed, and instrumented to electronically acquire data to evaluate the behavior of geogrids during pullout tests under various normal stresses. The pullout tests were also modelled using numerical techniques to correlate physical test data with numerical test data. Understanding the behavior of the geogrid, in both the physical and numerical pullout tests, allowed the geogrid model to be combined with a collapsing dam model to evaluate the effectiveness of reinforcement at reducing, or preventing, damage caused by collapse and cracking. Results from this model indicate that the effectiveness of the geogrid was minimal. The ineffectiveness of the geogrids, however, may be a result of numerical modelling problems associated with the computer program.

PhD / This study investigates how actions – especially narratives and claims – of civil society advocates influenced electricity generation planning and hydropower project implementation, in the context of a democratising authoritarian state. To pursue this research agenda, I use a critical realist philosophy of science to ground a conceptual framework whose fundamental components consist of institutions, interests, and discourses. The research presents three case studies from Thailand, a nation-state with distinct authoritarian legacies, as well as significant economic and political dynamism in the late 20th century. The cases step from macro to micro levels of analysis: (1) Electricity generation planning: an overview and critique of the social construction of peak power demand and supply options in Thailand, 1960s–2004. I focus on the rise of energy conservation advocacy in the early 1990s, and the rise of more confrontational energy activism in the late 1990s; (2) Pak Mun Dam: contention between EGAT, anti-dam villagers, and other state and civil society actors, 1989–2003; (3) Pak Mun Dam: analysis of how knowledge discourses shaped debates over fisheries and local livelihoods in the lower Mun river basin, 1999–2004. I pursue these cases in the larger context of Thai state–society relations, 1932–early 2000s: from the Khana Ratsadorn (People’s Party) and its founders’ increasingly authoritarian struggles to shape the state; through to the rise of civil society in the Indochina-war era; through the emergence of parliamentary politics and NGO evolution in the 1980s and early 1990s; to the Thai Rak Thai “money politics” party that emerged in 1998. Specific research questions focus on patterns and outcomes of state–society interaction, the role of lay and expert knowledge discourses in structuring conflict, and plausible causal connections between outcomes and concepts used in the conceptual framework. The study is based on fieldwork conducted between 2001 and 2005, with 18 months of intensive work concentrated in 2002 and 2004. Recurrent procedures consisted of collecting policy narratives and arguments and re-constructing actors’ interests (including those of leaders in organizations) via participant observation, interviews, and textual analysis. The thesis argues that anti-dam advocates influenced project implementation practices at Pak Mun Dam by forming social change networks, gaining contingent recognition as new political actors. Through innovative and disruptive action, through claims for transparency and justice, through mass performances of worthiness, unity, and commitment, and through the production of local knowledge, they helped set agendas. They triggered elite intervention, as well as reactive counter-mobilization and occasional violence. The escalation of uncertainty from unintended outcomes challenged elites – aided by deliberative exchanges – to reconsider unfavourable decisions, to reconsider their preferences, and to make concessions. At the same time, a number of events made the Assembly of the Poor, the main anti-dam movement organization, vulnerable to destabilizing action at the local and national levels. These include: the formation of competitive organizations in the lower Mun basin; complex and intractable issues (such as multiple rounds of compensation); and inability to take credit for championing the interests of vulnerable small farmers. Destabilizing interactions occurred particularly in the restricted media space of the post-financial and economic crisis years. Populist platforms put forward by Thai Rak Thai and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pre-empted the AOP’s influence. Sustainable energy advocates influenced practices of power system planning by teaching new techniques of energy conservation, and diffusing new norms. In the recent period, however, as some of them engaged in more contentious interaction, such as intervening in conflicts over new coal and hydroelectric power plants (in southern Thailand and Laos respectively) they disrupted dominant rationalities, and found themselves confronting some of the same core practices of a power-wielding bureaucracy and an authoritarian state, namely rhetorical strategies that police the boundaries of policy-relevant knowledge. The thesis, intended to contribute to social science methodology and theory, concludes with a critical appraisal of the conceptual framework. I suggest new research agendas for analysts interested in mechanisms of civil society advocacy in the context of democratising states.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 143-158).

Understanding how these networks and opportunities formed and the effect of these relationships on social movements and global politics is crucial for the future of the dam resistance movement. I hypothesize that the formation of networks and the larger role of civil society in decision-making has altered institutional decision-making, thus allowing for the development of new counter-hegemonic ideas of development and methods of organizing. Through a broad analysis of the dam resistance movement and specific dam resistance campaigns, this thesis examines how and under what circumstances transnational networks provide new opportunities for participation and greater influence over national policy and multilateral institutions. I will seek to answer the questions - how do anti-dam advocacy networks affect national and international policy and under what conditions are these networks successful?

Feasibility studies concerning decision-making for various types of items to be used in a small hydropower scheme is important for estimating the energy generation, the approximate cost of the project, and the required budget allocation. A computer program named RETScreen, which is commonly used in the North Americas, is capable of evaluating the energy generation, investment and maintenance costs for small hydro-projects. This thesis is based on application of this program to the Turkish practice. To this end, energy and cost equations dealing with energy generation and cost estimation of various items, such as costs of turbines, generators, installation of energy equipment, transmission line, etc., will be applied according to the common practice currently used in Turkey. A case study is performed to illustrate the use of this program. With the use of this program, it may be possible to perform quick successive runs to assess economic feasibility of several alternatives.

Water Brief, Fourth Draft / 6.16.76 / Introduction: The need for an efficient method of storage of water in arid zones has long been recognized. Efforts have been made everywhere to develop small storage tanks to provide water at critical periods. However, most of the existing tanks have such annual or seasonal evaporation losses that they are equal or even greater than the average depth of the tank. Thus many of these tanks are completely depleted before the end of the dry season, often with dramatic consequences for human beings, livestock or agricultural activities depending on the water supply. Reducing the heavy evaporation and seepage losses in these tanks is an important way to increase the supply of water. Several methods have been developed to reduce these losses but one of the most effective ways is to make the tanks with a smaller surface but deeper. The importance of making tanks deeper has been recognized for many years but there are several constraints for achieving depth in tanks: (a) the gradient of the water stream, (b) the unsuitability of dozers to work in deep pits, and (c) shallow soils. However, these constraints can be removed by using high rise banks and water pumps. Efficiency can also be improved by keeping the water concentrated. With this idea in mind, Mr. Cluff, FAO Consultant, has developed the concept of the compartmented tank, which is being tried out successfully in Mexico, and whose main features are summarized below.