Mathematical Problems in Engineering
Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 860760, 20 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/860760
Research Article

Statistical Analysis and Calculation Model of Flexibility Coefficient of Low- and Medium-Sized Arch Dam

Su Huaizhi,1,2 You Ting,2,3 and Wen Zhiping4

1State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
2College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
3National Engineering Research Center of Water Resources Efficient Utilization and Engineering Safety, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
4Department of Computer Engineering, Nanjing Institute of Technology, No. 1 Hongjing Avenue, Nanjing 211167, China

Received 8 June 2012; Accepted 20 July 2012

Academic Editor: Fei Kang

Copyright © 2012 Su Huaizhi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

The flexibility coefficient is popularly used to implement the macroevaluation of shape, safety, and economy for arch dam. However, the description of flexibility coefficient has not drawn a widely consensus all the time. Based on a large number of relative instance data, the relationship between influencing factor and flexibility coefficient is analyzed by means of partial least-squares regression. The partial least-squares regression equation of flexibility coefficient in certain height range between 30 m and 70 m is established. Regressive precision and equation stability are further investigated. The analytical model of statistical flexibility coefficient is provided. The flexibility coefficient criterion is determined preliminarily to evaluate the shape of low- and medium-sized arch dam. A case study is finally presented to illustrate the potential engineering application. According to the analysis result of partial least-squares regression, it is shown that there is strong relationship between flexibility coefficient and average thickness of dam, thickness-height ratio of crown cantilever, arc height ratio, and dam height, but the effect of rise-span ratio is little relatively. The considered factors in the proposed model are more comprehensive, and the applied scope is clearer than that of the traditional calculation methods. It is more suitable for the analogy analysis in engineering design and the safety evaluation for arch dam.