Dynamic Performance of Water Seals and Fatigue Failure Probability Updating of a Hydraulic Steel Sluice Gate

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to study the dynamic performance of seals and the fatigue failure probability updating of a hydraulic steel sluice gate by experiments. First, water seal modifications involving of top, side, and bottom water seals and the rotation hinge water seal were performed in order to identify and test for the desired shape and functionality. Water sealing experiments under a variety of conditions were performed. It is indicated that the preset compressive deformation of various water seals changed at varying water head conditions. Moreover, the transformation law of the preset compressive deformation of different sealing parts under the reservoir water head was discovered. Second, a hydraulic steel gate’s fatigue reliability was evaluated based on Bayes’ theorem. The findings indicate that fatigue cracks can be detected for existing structures while the fatigue reliability assessment can be updated by nondestructive testing (NDT). Based on the probabilistic characteristics for NDT techniques and Bayes’ theorem, a fatigue reliability updating assessment model for existing steel gate components is proposed. The results showed that fatigue reliability will increase with no cracks detected, decrease with unknown cracks detected, and change remarkably with cracks detected.