The Use of Shape Accel Array for Deformation Monitoring and Parameter Inversion of a 300 m Ultrahigh Rockfill Dam

The global construction of rockfill dams has now surpassed the 300 m height level. Despite great achievements in dam design and construction, monitoring techniques have lagged behind the development of high rockfill dams. Existing deformation monitoring techniques are ill-suited to the high earth and water pressures, and extended monitoring periods are required for ultrahigh rockfill dams. This study introduces, for the first time, the use of a shape accel array (SAA) to monitor internal displacement in a 300 m high earth core rockfill dam. The SAA employs a rope-like array of capacitive MEMS accelerometers for deformation measurement. Compared to conventional monitoring techniques, SAA is a data-intensive monitoring technique. Based on the intensive data obtained from SAA, we employed a parameter inversion method, utilizing multiobjective optimization algorithm, the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-III (NSGA-III), to inverse the constitutive model parameters of the rockfill dam. The multiobjective parameter inversion method maximizes the use of multisource monitoring data for predicting rockfill dam deformation.

Automated summary

The global construction of rockfill dams has reached a height of over 300 meters. However, monitoring techniques for high rockfill dams have not kept pace with dam design and construction. This study introduces the use of a shape accel array (SAA) for monitoring internal displacement in a 300-meter high earth core rockfill dam. Compared to conventional techniques, SAA is a data-intensive monitoring technique. The study also utilizes a parameter inversion method to predict rockfill dam deformation based on the intensive data obtained from SAA using a multiobjective optimization algorithm.