‘Micro-vibration +’ Technology Enhances Dam Safety on Dadu River

On August 22, the Dadu River Hydropower Development Co., Ltd. under China Energy launched its self-developed “micro-vibration monitoring +” system. Targeting the geological characteristics of the Dagangshan Hydropower Station, which is located on a high-arch dam in a high earthquake-intensity area, this technology realizes continuous optimization of “safety-benefit” whole life cycle of high-arch-dam projects, improves the early warning mechanism, and strengthens the safety monitoring of high-arch dams under special circumstances where droughts suddenly turn to floods.

Dagangshan Hydropower Station on the Dadu River

Located in an area where the Xianshui River, Anning River and Longmenshan faults meet, the Dagangshan Hydropower Station achieves the world’s highest level of earthquake resistance. Earthquakes are frequent in this area and the geological structure is relatively weak. As this summer’s continuous high temperature and drought across Sichuan Province have caused the surface soil around the dam to swell and crack, it is highly likely that downpours, floods and sudden changes from droughts to floods would take place in this area in the coming autumn, increasing risks of geological disasters.

Based on the previous micro-seismic technology and monitoring results, the Dadu River Reservoir and Dam Center has deployed multiple sensors in the high damage areas of the arch dam and the dam abutment, establishing a real-time “micro-vibration monitoring +” system that covers all directions and focuses on key positions.

While conventional monitoring approaches and physical model tests cannot precisely reflect the response characteristics of dams under seismic loads during construction and operation, the “micro-vibration monitoring +” system solves the problem. Through data interactions, this technology realizes the “from point to surface” monitoring of dam risks in high arch dam projects, as well as intelligent monitoring and early warning of the whole life cycle from dam construction to operation, which is highly valuable for popularization and application.