Guard Gate Tests at Tieton Dam

Pugh, Clifford A.; Wittler, Rodney J.; Fitzwater, Jerry R.; ,

Guard Gate Tests at Tieton Dam

by Clifford A. Pugh, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, United States,
Rodney J. Wittler, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, United States,
Jerry R. Fitzwater, United States Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

The emergency gate hoist system on the guard gates at Tieton Dam, near Yakima, Washington, was tested as part of the United States Bureau of Reclamation Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams (SEED) program. The Tieton tests are the final part of a comprehensive study by Reclamation for developing procedures for testing the adequacy of guard gates in emergency closure. If the service gates are not operable in an emergency, the guard gates must control and stop the flow of water. The two primary questions associated with an emergency closure are: 1.) Is the hydraulic hoist system capable of operating the gate? 2.) Does the air vacuum relief valve supply sufficient air to the downstream side of the gate? The purpose of this paper is to explain the hydraulics acting on typical flat bottom gates and to provide a method of analysis for determining the forces acting on a gate. The hydraulic forces, friction forces, and weight of the gate were determined during the test. The maximum hoist load is encountered during the opening cycle at a 5 percent (0.3 ft) gate opening. The sliding coefficient of friction is about 0.64. The 6-in and 8-in automatic air valves provide an adequate supply of air to alleviate low pressure in the conduit between the service gate and guard gate. The computer programs provide a good tool for predicting pressures and air demand in the conduit.

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