A review of prevention and risk management of reservoir bank collapse: Current status and prospects

Abstract

[Objective] Reservoir bank collapse is a typical engineering geological hazard in reservoir areas, directly threatening the lives and property of residents and the safety of infrastructure along the banks. Its prevention and risk management represent a major challenge in the field of hydraulic engineering. [Methods] The current state of research was systematically reviewed on reservoir bank collapse domestically and internationally. It begins by elucidating its causative mechanisms and typical failure modes. It then summarizes the technical method ology system, from investigation and identification to prediction and evaluation,analyzing the applicability of various method, including graphical, mathematical analysis, and numerical simulation approaches.The paper discusses integrated prevention and mitigation measures that combine engineering governance with ecological restoration, as well as the technical system encompassing professional “ sky-air-ground-water ” integrated monitoring and community-based monitoring, forecasting, and prevention. Building on this foundation and from a management perspective, this paper constructs a systematic risk management framework for reservoir bank collapse. This framework uses risk assessment as its scientific basis and the “Four Pre” s(Forecasting, Early Warning, Simulation, and Preparedness) as its core process, detailing its closed-loop management process and implementation strategies. [Results] The result indicate that the causes of reservoir bank collapse are complex. Reservoir water level fluctuation is the dominant external triggering factor, while the geological structure of the bank slope and the properties of the rock and soil mass form the internal basis controlling its stability. Identification and prediction technologies are showing a trend of integration between empirical and mechanistic models. Mechanistic and data-driven method such as numerical simulation and machine learning represent the development direction of high-precision and intelligent prediction. Prevention and mitigation measures are shifting from single engineering solutions to “ engineering-ecological ”collaborative governance, with measures like ecological slope protection receiving increasing attention. The monitoring and early warning system has evolved into a mature paradigm characterized by the “ integration of professional and community-based monitoring” and “stereoscopic collaboration”. Risk management has preliminarily formed a systematic management framework using the “Four Pre” s as the main line and risk assessment as the scientific basis, achieving a strategic shift from passive response to active prevention and control, significantly enhancing the comprehensive risk management capability of reservoir areas. [Conclusion] Current understanding of the dynamic coupling mechanisms involving multiple factors such as water level,rainfall, seepage, and geological structure remains insufficient. There is a need to deepen research on multi-field coupling mechanisms, develop “ grey-box” models that integrate physical mechanisms and data-driven approaches, and promote the intellectualization and standardization of prediction technologies to overcome the challenges of predicting bank collapse under complex conditions. Research on quantitative models of vegetation root soil reinforcement mechanisms, the durability of ecological slope protection materials, and their synergistic mechanisms with engineering structures should be conducted to develop ecofriendly and resilient prevention and mitigation technologies. It is essential to build an intelligent management “brain” to achieve closed-loop management of the “Four Pre” s for risk.

Keywords

reservoir bank collapse / risk identification / monitoring and early warning / prevention and mitigation measures / risk management / geological hazard / influence factor