Abstract:

There are many perilous waterways  between Three Gorges Project and Gezhouba Hydroproject. Curved riverway, turbulent water flow, and adverse flow pattern such as whirlpool threaten the safe navigation of ships and fleets. Ship model test was carried out by five representative types of fleets under the discharge of 45 000-35 000 m³/s, and the test results were presented. When the flow discharge is less than 40 000 m³/s, the fleets can pass through all the perilous segments between Three Gorges Project and Gezhouba Project, and their sailing parameters meet the safe navigation requirements generally. For small ships whose load capacity are less than 500 t, the safe flow discharge should be limited to less than 35 000 m³/s. Among the six perilous segments in the riverway between Three Gorges Project and Gezhouba Project, Xitan riverway and Shizinao riverway are the most troublesome in terms of upward sailing difficulty, followed by Liantuo riverway, and then Shipai riverway, Piannao riverway and Nanjinguan riverway in sequence. The research results are of practical value and guiding significance to the navigation management between Three Gorges Project and Gezhouba Project.

Key words: navigation between Three Gorges Project and Gezhouba Project, velocity and flow pattern, ship(fleet)'s adaptation to navigable discharge, ship speed against bank, safe distance to the bank