This week was super interesting! I got to help work on two different projects/models.
The first was a model of Folsom Dam in California. The model was not of the whole dam, but of the bulkhead gate.
These are photos of the model. The black part in the image on the left is the gate. The original design and intended purpose of the bulkhead gate was to close, so inspection and repair of downstream top-seal radial gates could be done. However, that original design was modified so that in an emergency situation the gates could be closed to stop downstream flow. This brought on a few possible problems. Some of them include gate failure to close, severe damage to gate, uncontrolled flow downstream, and potential flooding downstream. These are all very severe what-ifs. Therefore, testing on the gate is very important. The things that were recorded were the potential of catapulting and damage of the gate during closure in various flow rates, the forces acting on the gate, hydrodynamic characteristics during shifts in the gate. This testing was very important, which made it incredibly interesting to be a part of.
The other testing I got to help out with a bit this week was called jet testing. This testing was with the soils lab, not the hydraulics lab, which gave me a chance to see some of the other lab space in my building. The jet testing was a contraption that shot water in a jet into a certain mixture of compacted soil. This testing gave you the erosion rates of these different mixtures of soil. Each soil mixture was carefully measured out at the maximum dry density. Then it was packed into a metal tube and inserted into the jet testing chamber. Then at the 1, 5, 15, 30 minute, and one hour marks, the amount eroded was measured.
This is a picture of the jet testing area. The clear cylinder container on the table is where the soil is inserted. Water comes from the top and is shot straight down onto the soil. Then the water that is shot down and any soil that has eroded drains into that big bin with the brown water. From there it is drained into the water supply used in the hydraulics lab. This testing was very fun and interesting to be a part of because I got to do something somewhat similar to this my first week.
On the weekend, my sister moved to Denver in preparation for graduate school. I helped her move in and spent a lot of time with her hiking, biking, and watching movies.
It’s hard to believe that I only have one more week left. It feels like just yesterday I started this internship. I guess time flies when you’re having fun though. Can’t wait to see what I learn and do in my final week.
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