Three Gorges Cofferdam Blasting Test – Safety Monitoring
Project name: Three Gorges Cofferdam Blasting Test
Brief introduction: The Three Gorges Dam Project, completed in 2006, stands as one of the largest hydro-engineering achievements in history. As part of its construction process, an upstream cofferdam was built to temporarily block and control the river flow during the main dam’s development. Once the main dam was completed, the cofferdam had fulfilled its purpose and required demolition to restore full water flow.
The demolition process was not a simple task. When a cofferdam of such magnitude is blasted, the structure collapses into the river, creating powerful water hammer waves that can generate significant forces impacting the dam body. Understanding and mitigating these effects was critical to ensure the safety and structural integrity of the newly completed dam.
For this reason, a comprehensive blasting test was conducted during the demolition. Engineers carefully monitored the process to record the impact forces, vibration levels, and displacement data both before and after the explosion. Advanced signal acquisition systems and high-precision sensors were deployed to capture real-time data, ensuring that every stage of the demolition was scientifically evaluated.
Key objectives of the test included:
Measuring water hammer forces generated by the collapsing cofferdam.
Recording vibration responses on the dam structure to evaluate dynamic effects.
Tracking displacement behavior to ensure the dam body remained stable during and after the demolition.
Comparing pre- and post-blast data to confirm that no long-term structural issues were introduced.
The results confirmed that while the blast generated strong forces and significant water movement, the main dam structure remained safe and stable. This successful test not only validated the safety of the demolition process but also provided valuable reference data for future large-scale hydraulic demolition projects worldwide.
The Three Gorges Cofferdam Blasting Test stands as an example of how careful planning, advanced monitoring, and engineering precision ensure the safe execution of critical infrastructure operations.
