Structural design 155

The arm slenderness ratio is given by:

= lf /i (5.39)

where:
lf = buckling length


i = radius of gyration = I/A (5.40)

The buckling length is measured on the arm axis. On the rigid frame plane formed
by the arms and the horizontal girder, lf is taken equal to the distance between the hinge
axis and the neutral axis of the horizontal girder. On the vertical plane, the buckling
length is equal to the distance between the bracing connections, if any.

5.6 SILT PRESSURE ON GATES

Silt accumulation can occur upstream of gates. The silt pressure distribution on the
gate skin plate is similar to that of the hydrostatic load (maximum at the gate bottom,
and null at the top of the sediment layer), and shall be added to the static water pressure
in order to get the total load on the gate structure. Also, the influence of the silt loads
on the gate operating forces shall be investigated.
According to the Japanese standards for gates and penstocks, the silt load on the
gate can be determined as follows [1]:

Pe = Ce Wt d (5.41)

where
Pe = horizontal force of sediment pressure at a given point on the contact face
Ce = sediment pressure factor
Wt = unit weight of sedimentary silt in water
d = depth from deposit level of sediment to given point on contact face.
As for sedimentary silt, particles of sediment are not drifting in the water, but the
void of the sedimentary silt are filled with water, and they are mixed together. Thus,
the weight of the sedimentary silt is given by

Wt = W (1 v) (5.42)

where
W = apparent weight of sedimentary silt, in kN/m3
v = void ratio of sedimentary silt
= specific weight of water, in kN/m3 .
156 Design of hydraulic gates, 2nd edition

If more conservative values are not specified, the following values can be used:
W = 15 to 18 kN/m3
v = 0.30 to 0.45
= 9.81 kN/m2
Ce = 0.4 to 0.6
For static conditions, the frictional coefficient between the silt and the gate steel
plates can be taken as

= tan s (5.43)

where
s = friction angle of the sediment.
Gates installed in outlet structures may remain closed for prolonged time periods,
and the silt naturally accumulates in the vicinity of the gates. The silt may become
dense and jam the gate. Attempts to open such jammed gates by increased pull force
often have been unsuccessful and may lead to disastrous consequences. Therefore, the
bottom outlet gates exposed to silt should be operated as frequently as permissible
at least once a year. Frequency of operation of the gates should be determined for each
project depending upon the silt load and accumulation, and the type of sediments [2].
In case of radial gates loaded by sediments, the following consequences are also
observed:

Increase of reaction forces in the gate hinges;

Increase of the frictional moment in the gate hinges;
Creation of tangential frictional forces between the sediments and the skin plate
upstream face.

The above-mentioned resistant moments due to the gate hinge friction and the
friction forces on the skin plate upstream face shall be considered in the calculation of
the gate operating forces.

5.7 GATE SEISMIC LOADS

The dynamic pressure acting on a gate can be determined from the Westergaard
formula:
7
Pd = k Hh (5.44)
8
where
Pd = dynamic pressure, in kN/m2
= specific weight of water, in kN/m3
k = seismic intensity of design
H = water depth from reservoir water level to foundation ground, wave height by
wind and earthquake not included, in meters
h = water depth from reservoir water level to a given point, in meters.