ABSTRACT
The safety of diversion tunnel plugs of hydropower stations directly affects the safe operation and engineering benefit. As a permanent structure, the design procedure of a concrete plug is not clearly defined in previously released design codes or specifications. In order to give full play to the advantages of columnar plugs in facilitating construction, saving time and investment, as well as improving the level of columnar plug design and promoting their application, the stress analysis of the diversion plug body of Wudongde hydropower plant is carried out to investigate the contact characteristics between the lining concrete of the tunnel plug and the surrounding rock. The structural characteristics of concrete plugs are studied as well. The bearing capacity and safety of the plug under different safety evaluation methods are studied, providing a reliable reference for plug design.
