| Abstract | The Elbow River flows through southwest Calgary and is susceptible to flooding with catastrophic results. During the flood event of June 2013, the Elbow River’s peak flow rates reached approximately 1,240 m3/s, far exceeding the rivers’s natural capacity of less than 200 m3/s. The losses experienced during the flood were valued in excess of $5B. The Springbank Off-stream Storage Project was conceived to divert and store a portion of the Elbow River flood flows. Some of the main structural components of the project include a diversion and spillway structure that intersects the Elbow River, a diversion channel, and an off-stream storage reservoir. Following the development of an initial diversion and spillway structure design, a large scale (1:16) physical model study was commissioned to assist in assessing and improving the initial design to ensure good performance under a range of flood conditions. The main objectives of the physical model study were to: determine the hydraulic performance of various key elements of the new structures for a range of operational and extreme flow conditions; assess the behaviour of sediments and woody debris within and around the structures; and help refine the proposed designs to improve conveyance, reduce the risk of erosion and sedimentation, reduce the risk of blockage by debris, improve constructability, and reduce costs where possible. This paper provides a full description of the physical model with a focus on the tests that assessed and studied the impacts of woody debris. |
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