Journal of Hydroelectric Engineering

水力发电学报

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2026 Vol. 45, No. 7 Published: 2026-07-25

	1	Relationships of dilatancy angle and zero extension line versus failure surfaces
		Jie Yuxin
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260701
		Dilatancy is a common concept in the constitutive relationships in the study of rocks, soils, and concretes, etc. In its measurements, dilatancy angle is a primary parameter that, an objective quantity though, is closely related to constitutive models, particularly the Mohr-Coulomb model. This paper presents a comprehensive review for clarification of the origin and nature of dilatancy angle, discusses typical misconceptions about it, and demonstrates the internal connections and implicit assumptions between its different forms of expression under plane strain and triaxial testing conditions. To distinguish from the actual failure surface, we classify the theoretical failure surfaces into two categories－conventional strength-based failure surfaces defined by the Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion, and deformation-based failure surfaces defined by the zero extension line. The relationships of failure surfaces versus dilatancy angle, internal friction angle, and zero extension line are explored. We also discuss the reason that the angle between the displacement increment direction and the theoretical failure surface equals the internal friction angle, by using the Mohr-Coulomb associated flow model under plane strain conditions. And, the objectivity of the indexes in geomechanics is examined and classified. Further, combined with the definition of shear strength, we reveal that the measurement bases of shear strength indexes adopted by direct shear tests and triaxial tests are not exactly the same. For practical measurement of strength indexes, test methods should be selected according to different scenarios. The findings would deepen our understanding of fundamental concepts－such as dilatancy angle, zero extension line, failure surface, and shear strength－and their applicable conditions, thereby avoiding confusion and ambiguity.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 1-26 [Abstract] ( 84 ) PDF (1412 KB) ( 70 )

	27	Experimental study on creep characteristics of asphalt concrete after large deformation
		Zhang Yanyi, Gao Lei, Deng Gang, Liu Cheng, Chen Hui, Lu Wei
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260702
		To study the creep characteristics of asphalt concrete after large deformation, triaxial tests are conducted under the conditions of four different temperatures and three different confining pressures, and creep tests are made under the axial stress corresponding to a deviating stress at the axial strain of 20%. The results show that the creep curves are quite different from those of regular creep tests, and the temperature and pressure impose varying effects on creep strain. At initial test stage, the influence of these factors is relatively weak, while with time passing in later stages, creep strain increases with test temperature significantly, but decreases with confining pressure to a certain extent. Under variations in both factors, variation patterns in creep rate and creep acceleration show that very close turning points occur in the sample￠s creeping; The average creep rate at these turning points can be used as a threshold of the turning for the creep stage of asphalt concrete after large deformation. The time to reach the turning point depends on the factors, as shown by our analysis. The higher the temperature or the smaller the pressure, the faster the turning point of creeping will be reached.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 27-38 [Abstract] ( 67 ) PDF (2883 KB) ( 53 )

	39	Characteristics, advancing process, and new technologies for closure of embankment large breaches
		Lu Bin, Du Shuaiqun, Li Dongqi, Huang Wei, Lin Zhenkui, Zhang Huadi, Wang Xiaodong, Li Jun, Liu Junguo
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260703
		An embankment breach is a typical sudden disaster, and the process of breach closure varies with different locations, times, and conditions. It is a systematic emergency project that requires comprehensive decision-making and scientific organization for implementation. In recent years, under the increasing frequency of extreme rainfall and flood disasters, large-scale embankment breaches have occurred more frequently, characterized by severe damage and great difficulty in emergency response. Achieving rapid and efficient closure of large embankment breaches has therefore become an urgent scientific and technological challenge in the field of flood control and emergency rescue. Through case collection, data statistics, and theoretical analysis, this study systematically summarizes the current research status on embankment breach characteristics, closure timing, materials, and technologies. From a new perspective, we comprehensively review the system of pouring (or sinking) materials and its application scenarios. Furthermore, two typical advancement modes are analyzed: continuous rapid advancement and multiple discontinuous advancement, along with practical calculation methods for closing duration. Finally, based on analyses of the hydraulic conditions and morphological characteristics of breaches, we construct a modern technical system for embankment breach closure, and identify future development directions of new rapid closure technologies for complex large breaches. The results provide theoretical support and engineering references for enhancing emergency response capacity in embankment management.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 39-62 [Abstract] ( 99 ) PDF (11733 KB) ( 37 )

	63	Hydration degree and pore structure of silica fume-prewet recycled fine aggregate concrete
		Qin Yuan, Nie Yibo, Zhao Jingwei, Hu Shoubin
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260704
		Recycled concrete enables resource reutilization of construction waste materials and mitigates the depletion of natural sand and gravel resources. This study investigates recycled concrete (RCA) with a 30% substitution rate to address its performance degradation caused by high porosity and strong water absorption in recycled fine aggregates (RFA), focusing on three treatment conditions－different silica fume dosages (0%, 6% and 12%), and three drying conditions－dry, semi-saturated prewetted, and fully saturated prewetted states. We conduct experimental tests on compressive strength, and make nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and thermogravimetric analysis, examining the synergistic effects of silica fume and prewetting on RCA. The results show that in the case of the silica ash content of 6% and the semi-saturated and prewetted RFA, the recycled concrete is best in comprehensive performance－its hydration degree increased by 8.08%, porosity reduced by 16.64%, and compressive strength increased by 13.8%, compared with the RD of the recycled control group. Prewetted RCA provides a stable hydration environment in the early curing stage, while it facilitates hydration during mid-to-late stages through releasing its sustained water that results in an internal curing condition. And, correlations exist between its hydration degree, pore structure parameters, and mechanical properties.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 63-75 [Abstract] ( 105 ) PDF (4431 KB) ( 34 )

	76	Study on abrasion resistance of ultra-high performance steel fiber shotcrete
		Yan Shengli, Yang Weijun, Yang Jianyu, Huang Yi
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260705
		This study investigates the resistance and damage of ultra-high performance shotcrete (UHPSC) under sand-laden flows, focusing on the effect of different steel fiber contents. Underwater abrasion tests are conducted to measure mass loss over time, and surface morphology is examined using laser microscopy. Results show the UHPSC sample’s abrasion evolution features uniform wear without abrupt mass loss. After abrasion of 4 h long, the abrasion resistance of its front surface is 1.4 times that of the side surface, and 1.2 times and 2.0 times that of UHPC (with the same mix proportion) and ordinary concrete respectively. The steel fiber content significantly influences abrasion performance－the abrasion rate increases first and then decreases as fiber content increases from 0% to 1.5%; at 0.5% fiber content, it is 9.58% higher than that of the fiber-free group; at 1.00%, 1.25%, and 1.50%, it decreases by 5.45%, 14.5%, and 38.7% respectively. And, a hybrid combination of 1.0% steel fiber and 0.5% polypropylene fiber decreases the abrasion rate by 19.9%. This study demonstrates UHPSC has excellent anti-abrasion performance and a good prospect in hydraulic application involving sand-laden flow abrasion.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 76-82 [Abstract] ( 82 ) PDF (3248 KB) ( 36 )

	83	Dynamic propagation mechanism of uncertainty risk in operation of cascade reservoirs in Xijiang River basin
		You Chuhui, Ren Kang, Chen Shu, Chen Yun
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260706
		This study constructs a robust optimization operation model of cascade reservoirs to address the scheduling risks intensified by the non-stationarity of river runoffs under climate change, and applies it in a case study of the Xijiang River basin. Adopting the dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) method, we develop a dynamic probabilistic model for the risk propagation related to water shortage and the insufficient power output in the cascade reservoir system. A comparative analysis is made on the evolution and propagation characteristics of uncertainty risks under our new robust operation rules against those historical operation rules. The results indicate the robust rules lower the mean joint risk probability across the entire basin by 47.9%, effectively mitigating the water shortage risks in the downstream river sections and the insufficient power output of the reservoir system. Risk propagation in the system features significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Spatially, the primary risk pathways go through the river sections of Changzhou-Wuzhou and Baise-Xijin; Temporally, the most prominent sequential risk propagation is that between the Baise and Guangzhao reservoirs. We demonstrate a synergistic amplification effect under the upstream risks and the reservoirs’ own historical risk states, which is more sensitive in the case of annual regulation reservoirs. Our findings would help the prevention and control of uncertainty risks and the adaptive operation of cascade reservoir systems.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 83-95 [Abstract] ( 83 ) PDF (5133 KB) ( 51 )

	96	Calculation method of mobile-bed resistance for Yellow River based on turbulent eddy model
		Luo Shiqi, Zhang Hongwu, Peng Yang, Shi Cuixiang
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260707
		Movable bed resistance to the flow in an alluvial river is fundamental to river dynamics and riverbed evolution, playing a critical role in calculations of flood routing and sediment transport. This paper discusses the traditional method and its significant limitations in using the techniques of hydraulic radius separation and slope superposition, based on a systematic review of previous resistance methods in literature and their underlying assumptions. Specifically, under nonrigorous iterative closure calculations, these methods often yield an overestimated grain hydraulic radius—sometimes exceeding the measured total hydraulic radius—resulting in physical anomalies such as a negative bedform hydraulic radius. Model tests on the Yellow mainstream indicate that the friction loss caused solely by bed grains is a non-existent scenario, and that grain resistance and bedform resistance are interdependent and therefore their simple superposition is not reasonable. To address this, we adopt a high-accuracy turbulent eddy model velocity formula that is able to resolve those theoretical defects inherent in the classical logarithmic velocity law, and take the river as an approximate uniform flow (with an energy slope equal to the bed slope). Then, we apply the continuity equation in closure calculations, using the inputs of discharge, channel width, and bed sediment size, and thereby determine the flow depth and velocity that should reflect the real flow resistance. Validation against extensive field data from the wide and narrow reaches of the lower Yellow mainstream shows that this new method yields a satisfactory accuracy for engineering applications, achieving a meaningful switching from empirical or semi-empirical estimations to theoretical calculations of movable river bed resistance. Compared to Einstein’s method, our new velocity formula overcomes its deficiencies in calculating the two layers near water surface and riverbed, resulting in a higher accuracy. In the case of imbalance between riverbed erosion and deposition, the turbulent eddy model yields validation water depth correlation coefficients of 0.85 and 0.96 for the wide and narrow reaches, respectively, better than those of Einstein's formula of 0.84 and 0.95; Its relative errors are 14.4% and 14.4%, lower than 18.6% and 18.5% of Einstein's, respectively. If sidewall resistance is considered using Einstein’s approach, its validation performance improves for the wide reach, and its overall validation accuracy can be further enhanced. However, in the case of narrow reach, the validation accuracies of both formulas decrease, and the validation performance of Einstein's is quite unsatisfactory.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 96-110 [Abstract] ( 92 ) PDF (6809 KB) ( 35 )

	111	Multi-objective optimization of water hammer protection schemes for complex gravity flow conveyance systems
		Fang Zhaoyu, Qian Shangtuo, Li Pengyu, Yu Xiaodong
		DOI: 10.11660/slfdxb.20260708
		To address the issues of low computational efficiency and blind parameter searching in the optimization of water hammer protection schemes, a collaborative optimization method for protection parameters based on theoretical formulas is proposed. This study aims to construct a precise optimization space through theoretical formulas so that an intelligent and rapid design of the parameters can be achieved. First, a limiting valve-closing time formula for water hammer that accounts for pipe-valve coupling is derived to determine the initial closing time and establish the search domain. Using this formula, the Method of Characteristics (MOC) is employed to generate sample data for training a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) surrogate model, with valve-closing time and surge tank diameter as input variables. The NSGA-III algorithm is then applied for multi-objective iterative optimization, and the optimal scheme is selected using Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The results indicate that the derived valve-closing time formula has high accuracy, with a relative deviation of less than 2% between the theoretically assumed piezometric head and the MOC simulation results. The MLP surrogate model demonstrates excellent predictive performance, achieving an average R2 exceeding 0.94 and an average RMSE of less than 0.3 m in 5-fold cross-validation. Furthermore, the optimized surge tank volume is reduced by 20.5% compared to the initial design, significantly improving both the cost-effectiveness and safety of the water hammer protection scheme.
		2026 Vol. 45 (7): 111-120 [Abstract] ( 99 ) PDF (664 KB) ( 51 )