Modern hydraulic structures are artificial structures for industrial, civil, military or other purposes, built on an artificial or natural water body, either in close proximity to it, or by itself being an artificial water body.
All hydraulic structures are divided into permanent and temporary ones.
The main hydraulic structures include:
- dams;
- abutments and retaining walls that are part of the pressure front;
- collapse dams;
- shore protection (off-port), regulatory and protective structures;
- spillways, spillways and water outlets;
- water intakes and water intake structures;
- channels of derivational, navigable, water management and reclamation systems, complex purpose and structures on them (for example, aqueducts, ductwork, bridges-channels, pipes-storm drains, etc.);
- tunnels;
- pipelines;
- pressure basins and equalizing reservoirs;
- buildings of hydraulic and pumped storage power plants and pumping stations;
- sedimentation tanks;
- navigable structures (locks, ship lifts and navigable dams);
- fish passageways structures that are part of the pressure front;
- hydraulic structures of ports (embankments, piers), shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises, ferry crossings, except those classified as secondary;
- hydraulic structures of thermal power plants and nuclear power plants;
- hydraulic structures included in the complexes of engineering protection of settlements and enterprises;
- hydraulic engineering structures for the engineering protection of farmland, sanitary protection territories, communal storage enterprises, cultural and natural monuments;
- hydraulic structures of offshore oil and gas fields;
- hydraulic structures of navigation equipment;
- structures (dams) enclosing ash and slag dumps and liquid waste storages of industrial and agricultural organizations.
Secondary hydraulic structures include:
- ice protection structures;
- separation walls;
- free-standing service and auxiliary berths;
- abutments and retaining walls that are not part of the pressure front;
- coastal protection structures of ports;
- fish protection structures;
- logging structures (log escapes, zapani, rafters) and other hydraulic structures not listed as part of the main ones.
According to SNiP 33-01-2003 "Building norms and rules of the Russian Federation - Hydraulic structures", when designing hydraulic structures for various purposes, it is necessary to ensure and provide:
- reliability of structures at all stages of their construction and operation;
- maximum economic efficiency of construction;
- constant instrumental and visual monitoring of the condition of the hydraulic structure and the enclosing rock mass, as well as natural and man-made impacts on them;
- preparation of the reservoir bed and liquid waste storages of industrial enterprises and the surrounding area;
- protection of mineral deposits;
- necessary conditions for navigation;
- preservation of wildlife, in particular, the organization of fish protection measures;
- the minimum necessary water consumption, as well as favorable level and speed regimes in the streams, taking into account the interests of water consumers and water users, as well as a favorable groundwater level regime for developed lands and natural ecosystems.
When designing hydraulic structures for various purposes, they are guided by theoretical calculations, developments, norms and rules of hydraulic engineering, as well as other technical sciences. The need to follow the SNiP is a basic requirement. All rules and regulations are developed at the state level to optimize the design and construction processes.
Basic laws and regulations on hydraulic structures:
- Federal Law No. 117-FZ dated 07/21/1997 (as amended on 07/14/2008) "On the safety of hydraulic structures"
- SNiP 2.06.01-86 "Hydraulic structures. The main provisions of the design"
- SNiP 2.02.02-85 "Foundations of hydraulic structures"
- SNiP 2.06.07-87 "Retaining walls, shipping locks, fish passageways and fish protection structures"
- SNiP 2.06.15-85 "Engineering protection of the territory from flooding and flooding"
- SNiP 2.06.08-87 "Concrete and reinforced concrete structures of hydraulic structures"
- SNiP 3.07.01-85 "River hydraulic structures"
- SNiP 33-01-2003 "Hydraulic structures"
- SP 32-103-97 "Design of marine coastal protection structures"