New Lock for Soo Locks and Dam, Model Investigations During 2006-2010, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, St. Mary's River: Hydraulic Model Investigation

摘要

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, requested that the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) evaluate the hydraulic performance of the new lock proposed for construction at the Soo Locks project in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The lock will replace the existing Davis and Sabin locks in the North Canal. Currently, the Poe Lock is the only facility at Soo Locks capable of handling the Great Lakes system's largest vessels which account for more than half of the potential carrying capacity of the Great Lakes fleet. A laboratory model study was performed to evaluate the lock filling and emptying system and ice lockage procedures. Model investigations between 2003 and 2005 were reported in Hite and Tuthill 2005. This report provides results of additional model experiments performed during the period 2005-2010 for the new lock. Modifications including new intake and filling and emptying system designs were evaluated. Additional intake experiments were performed as a result of changing the upper approach to include an emergency gate. Additional lock chamber experiments were conducted to determine the performance of a new port design suggested from a value engineering study of the Type 15 Design Filling and Emptying System for non standard lock valve operations. Non standard valve operations may be necessary for maintenance or a malfunctioning valve. All tests were performed with a 21.5-ft lift. The upper pool el was 601.6 and the lower pool el was 580.1.