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Heavy rains have brought water levels at China’s Three Gorges Dam to within spitting distance of the massive structure’s maximum capacity. Chinese officials have defended the controversial dam, saying that it would be able to withstand 10,000-year floods. However the country’s summer rains are the worst they have been in 10 years, with widespread flooding causing the deaths of at least 823 people.
Originally posted by hinky
We'll finally see how good Chinese engineering is. The flood gates being opened puts massive strain on the concrete structure. Notice how the water is dropping onto the concrete blockhouse along the bottom of the dam. Tremendous force and pressure there.
At 90% full, it will still need a large amount of water to top off the reservoir. Most flood control control reservoirs in the USA Midwest have a normal pool level of 75-80%. The last 10-15% is surprisingly hard to fill. You can't think in terms of water volume needing just 10-15% more water. Its structure height, and this area will include hundreds of thousands to millions of acres of land waiting for water. With a couple of reservoirs I am aware of, you can double the amount of water from 80 to 90% then double it again to 95% full. It's logarithmic in scale not geometric.
I'm am positive the Chinese thought this one out for this as it is a flood control system along with a hydroelectric generation facility.
Now imagine how much flooding, death, and destruction would be happening in the next couple of months without this dam. Probably in the range of several hundred thousand lives saved.
Originally posted by hinky
Now imagine how much flooding, death, and destruction would be happening in the next couple of months without this dam. Probably in the range of several hundred thousand lives saved.
Originally posted by stirling
I call your attention to earlier reports of cracks apearing in the damn thing already......
I dont have the link handy but its out there...
If the rains keep comming the likelihood of failure must also increase geometrically....or whatever.....