Academic literature on the topic 'Barrages fluviaux'

Dans les systèmes aquatiques, la plupart des éléments traces métalliques (ETM) sont piégés dans les sédiments puis peuvent être relargués en fonction des conditions chimiques et de l’activité microbienne à l’interface eau-sédiment. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’impact de remise en suspension des sédiments (lors de crues et d’opérations de gestion de barrages) sur la mobilité de certains ETM. Plusieurs conditions expérimentales de lessivage ont été choisies pour simuler ces événements : conditions oxiques et anoxiques sur des sédiments bruts et d’autres irradiés par rayons gamma. L’utilisation d’eau désionisée a permis de maximiser le processus de relargage. Deux types de sédiments, issus de contextes différents, ont été sélectionnés : le barrage de Villerest (France) et la rivière Xiang (Chine). Des expériences à long terme (30 jours) ont permis d’identifier la dégradation de la matière organique, l’activité microbienne et l’altération (voire la dissolution) de phases porteuses d’ETM comme principaux facteurs de contrôle. L’importance de l’activité microbienne n’a pas pu être quantifiée puisque l’irradiation n’a pas stérilisé totalement les sédiments. Enfin, l’impact de tels évènements parait très limité puisque moins de 1% des ETM contenus dans les sédiments ont été libérés<br>In aquatic systems, most of trace metals (TM) are buried in sediments and then can be released according to chemical conditions and microbial activity occurring at the sediment-water interface. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of resuspension events (flood or maintenance operations for dam reservoir) on the mobility of some TM. Different batch experiment conditions were chosen to mimic those events: under oxic and anoxic conditions on raw sediments and on gamma-irradiated ones (“sterilized” one). The use of deionized water allowed maximizing the release process. Two sediment types issued from different contexts were selected: the Villerest dam reservoir (France) and the Xiang River (China). Long term experiments (30-day long) allowed identifying that organic matter degradation, microbial activity and alteration/dissolution of trace metal bearing phases were the main controlling factors. The gamma-irradiation did not sterilize sediments but only limited aerobic bacteria and enhanced anaerobic activity. The impact of such 24h resuspension event on reservoir waters and downstream biota is very limited as less than 1% of trace elements was released

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-09-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:14:49Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_vc_me_rcla.pdf: 1357104 bytes, checksum: 93f8d2931c8ea5facacb9de9abe21ee3 (MD5)<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)<br>O rio Paraná, em seu trecho natural, possui padrão multicanal caracterizado por canais secundários de diferentes ordens, separando diversas ilhas e barras fluviais. As barras fluviais são formas semi-submersas associadas à disponibilidade de sedimentos e a um dinamismo temporal cujas dimensões são controladas pelo fluxo e pela profundidade. Neste estudo, pretende-se compreender os processos que promovem a formação, desenvolvimento e movimentação de uma barra de soldamento situada junto à ilha Santa Rosa, no rio Paraná, município de Porto Rico - PR. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, foram realizados levantamentos de parâmetros hidráulicos, morfométricos e granulométricos. Nos dados levantados dos parâmetros hidráulicos, verificou-se que a presença da ilha Santa Rosa, juntamente com barra fluvial, divide o canal em dois setores de dinâmica hidráulica e sedimentar distintas. O canal principal conduz a maior parcela da vazão, é mais energético, enquanto o canal secundário apresenta valores inferiores nestes dois parâmetros. A separação do fluxo também acarreta na formação de correntes divergentes à direção principal do canal, favorecendo a diminuição da velocidade e, consequentemente, a deposição de sedimentos no entorno da ilha Santa Rosa. Averiguou-se que a morfologia da barra está diretamente vinculada às flutuações de vazão do rio Paraná: em período de águas altas há maior retrabalhamento da forma, já no período de águas médias, esta se preservou parcialmente, inclusive com afloramento em parte. Quanto aos sedimentos, as partículas de diâmetro fino distribuem-se em locais de maior velocidade de fluxo e profundidade (talvegue) em ambos os períodos analisados As partículas de diâmetro médio a grosso encontram-se no período de águas altas distribuídas pela área estudada; já no período de águas médias, estes sedimentos...<br>The Paraná River, in its natural stretch, has a multichannel pattern characterized by secondary channels of different orders, which separates several islands and bars. The bars are forms semi-submerged associated with the availability of sediment and a temporal dynamic, whose dimensions are controlled by the flow and depth. This study intends to understand the processes which promote formation, development and movement of the annexation bar associated to the Santa Rosa Island, located on Paraná River, near to Porto Rico - PR. To achieve the proposed aims, surveys were carried out in hydraulic, morphometric and granulometric parameters. In the data hydraulic parameters survey it was found that the presence of Santa Rosa Island along with bar divides the river channel in two sectors of distinct dynamic hydraulic and sediment. The main channel leads to a higher portion of the flow, it is more energetic, while the secondary channel has lower values in these two parameters. The separation of the flow also causes the formation of divergent currents towards the main channel, favoring the decrease in velocity and consequent deposition of sediments near to Santa Rosa Island. It was found that the morphology of the bar is directly linked to fluctuations in the flow of the Paraná River, during periods of high water there is more reworking, since in this average water period partially preserved its shape, emerging in part. As for sediment, the fine diameter particles are distributed in areas of higher flow velocity and depth (thalweg) in both analyzed periods. From medium to coarse diameter particles are, in the high-water period, distributed in the studied area, although in the average water period these sediments are located in low flow velocity and depth (Bar and Secondary Channel). Specific stream power and shields parameter values are larger in the main channel in both periods, indicating... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Mestrado em Engenharia Civil<br>Na dissertação apresentada procuram-se estudar os aspectos relacionados com a diminuição do transporte sedimentar fluvial, principalmente devido à construção de barragens. Este facto é importante no balanço sedimentar negativo e consequente erosão costeira que se regista no litoral Português. Assim, analisa-se o transporte sólido antes e após a construção de barragens em dois casos reais. No Rio Tejo, a construção de inúmeras barragens, provocou uma diminuição do transporte sólido em cerca de 70 %, ao passo que, no Rio Saru (Japão), por aplicação de diferentes formulações numéricas, houve um decréscimo do transporte sedimentar fluvial em cerca de 50 %, devido ao aumento da secção de montante e consequente redução da velocidade de escoamento. Perante este facto, foram efectuados ensaios laboratoriais com sedimentos, desenvolvidos no canal de hidráulica do Departamento de Engenharia Civil da Universidade de Aveiro. Nestes ensaios simulou-se o impacto da construção de uma barragem, relacionando o caudal líquido com o caudal sólido antes e depois de se instalar um descarregador. Devido ao aumento da secção do escoamento a montante, associado ao efeito de barreira da própria barragem, o transporte sólido após a instalação do descarregador deixou de existir. Estes resultados também foram confrontados com formulações numéricas de quantificação do transporte sedimentar. A quantificação do efeito das barragens no transporte sólido fluvial não é fácil e as diversas consequências que provocam, nomeadamente na erosão costeira, não estão completamente compreendidas. Assim, foi objectivo desta dissertação contribuir para a compreensão do efeito das barragens no transporte sedimentar fluvial, verificando-se o elevado impacto que o aumento da secção do escoamento e redução da respectiva velocidade após a construção de uma barreira, têm no transporte sólido. ABSTRACT: In the presented dissertation the objective is to study the main aspects related to the decrease of the river solid transport due to the dams construction, that is pointed out to be one of the greatest causes of coastal erosion in the Northwest of Portugal. Therefore we have focused on the solid transport before and after the construction of a dam in two real case situations. In river Tejo the construction of several dams has led to the 70 % decrease of the solid transport, whereas in river Saru (Japan), through the application of different numeric formulations, there has been a decrease in the river sediment transport to about 50 %, due to the increase of the upstream reservoirs of the dams and consequent decrease of flow velocities. Considering these situations, some laboratorial tests with sediments, were developed in the hydraulic flume of the Civil Engineering Department of Aveiro University. In these tests it was simulated the impact of the construction of a dam, relating the river flow and the solid transport before and after installing the barrier. Due to the increasing of the cross section area in the upstream side associated to the barrier effect of the dam itself, the solid transport stopped. These results were also compared with numerical formulas of quantification of the sediment transport. The effects of the dams in the solid transport is not easy to achieve and the several consequences it provokes, mainly the coastal erosion, it is not completely understood. This way, the goal of this dissertation was to contribute to the comprehension of the real impacts of the dams in the river sediments transport. It was verified that the water level increase and flow velocity reduction is very important on decreasing the volumes of river sediment transport.

Dada a importância estratégica das barragens no Brasil e à disputa de interesses, o descomissionamento dessas estruturas é um assunto inevitável a ser discutido. Um conjunto de casos de descomissionamento de outros países é apresentado e ilustra de maneira abrangente essa questão pouco discutida e ainda não legislada no Brasil. Uma metodologia para avaliação da necessidade de descomissionamento com base no potencial de risco oferecido foi proposta e aplicada aos barramentos constantes do Cadastro de barragens das bacias PCJ, no estado de São Paulo. Apesar de a metodologia não poder ser aplicada em sua total extensão devido à insuficiência de dados do cadastro, é possível perceber quando algumas barragens encontram-se descuidadas, sem nenhum tipo de monitoramento podendo ser elegíveis para escomissionamento.<br>Due to the importance of dams in Brazil and to different interests, dam decommissioning is an unavoidable issue to be discussed. Some examples of dam removal in some countries are presented to generally elucidate this subject that still hasnt been acknowledged, neither legislated in Brazil. A methodology for evaluation of decommissioning demanding, based on the potential risk offered by dams has been set up and tested over a few dams that are constituent of a data basis of dams of Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí (PCJ) basins, in São Paulo state. Despite the fact that the methodology couldnt be used at its full length due to lack of field data, it has been realized when some dams of the data basis are most despised, recklessly maintained and are contestant for decommissioning.

O presente trabalho propõe-se a tratar da adequação de conceitos ecológicos sobre o funcionamento de sistemas fluviais como uma forma de compor critérios de análise de impactos aos quais esses sistemas estão sujeitos a partir da instalação de barramentos. As análises foram baseadas em estudos de caso associados aos rios do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, na bacia do rio Uruguai. A adaptação de alguns conceitos em um sistema de informações geográficas mostrou-se possível, a produção de mapas com os conceitos fragmentação e vulnerabilidade do rio indicada pelas espécies de peixes é viável e apesar de não eliminar o componente subjetivo da tomada de decisão, traz como vantagens a transparência na construção dos índices de avaliação de fragmentação do rio e a replicabilidade do modelo em diferentes configurações de fragmentação ou cenários. Os estudos de caso evidenciaram que para a aplicação da estrutura de análise alguns pontos tornam-se limitadores da qualidade da análise, especialmente em decorrência da carência de dados confiáveis, da pouca informação disponível sobre a riqueza de espécies de peixes e sua biologia, ou pela baixa confiabilidade dos dados existentes nos documentos técnicos que integram processos de licenciamento ambiental.<br>This paper proposes to address the adequacy of ecological concepts on the functioning of river systems as a way to make the criteria for analysis of impacts to which these systems are subject through the installation of buses. Analyses were based on case studies related to the rivers of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, in the Uruguay river basin. The adaptation of some concepts in a geographic information system has proved possible to produce maps with the terms fragmentation and vulnerability of the river indicated by fish species is feasible and although not eliminate the subjective component of decision making, brings the advantages in building transparency of the assessment rates of fragmentation of the river and replicability of the model in different configurations or scenarios of fragmentation. The case studies showed that for the application of structure analysis, a few paragraphs become limiting the quality of analysis, especially due to the lack of reliable data, the little information available about the richness of fish species and their biology, or the unreliability of existing data in the technical documents that integrate environmental licensing processes.

Resumo: O rio Paraná, em seu trecho natural, possui padrão multicanal caracterizado por canais secundários de diferentes ordens, separando diversas ilhas e barras fluviais. As barras fluviais são formas semi-submersas associadas à disponibilidade de sedimentos e a um dinamismo temporal cujas dimensões são controladas pelo fluxo e pela profundidade. Neste estudo, pretende-se compreender os processos que promovem a formação, desenvolvimento e movimentação de uma barra de soldamento situada junto à ilha Santa Rosa, no rio Paraná, município de Porto Rico - PR. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, foram realizados levantamentos de parâmetros hidráulicos, morfométricos e granulométricos. Nos dados levantados dos parâmetros hidráulicos, verificou-se que a presença da ilha Santa Rosa, juntamente com barra fluvial, divide o canal em dois setores de dinâmica hidráulica e sedimentar distintas. O canal principal conduz a maior parcela da vazão, é mais energético, enquanto o canal secundário apresenta valores inferiores nestes dois parâmetros. A separação do fluxo também acarreta na formação de correntes divergentes à direção principal do canal, favorecendo a diminuição da velocidade e, consequentemente, a deposição de sedimentos no entorno da ilha Santa Rosa. Averiguou-se que a morfologia da barra está diretamente vinculada às flutuações de vazão do rio Paraná: em período de águas altas há maior retrabalhamento da forma, já no período de águas médias, esta se preservou parcialmente, inclusive com afloramento em parte. Quanto aos sedimentos, as partículas de diâmetro fino distribuem-se em locais de maior velocidade de fluxo e profundidade (talvegue) em ambos os períodos analisados As partículas de diâmetro médio a grosso encontram-se no período de águas altas distribuídas pela área estudada; já no período de águas médias, estes sedimentos... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)<br>Abstract: The Paraná River, in its natural stretch, has a multichannel pattern characterized by secondary channels of different orders, which separates several islands and bars. The bars are forms semi-submerged associated with the availability of sediment and a temporal dynamic, whose dimensions are controlled by the flow and depth. This study intends to understand the processes which promote formation, development and movement of the annexation bar associated to the Santa Rosa Island, located on Paraná River, near to Porto Rico - PR. To achieve the proposed aims, surveys were carried out in hydraulic, morphometric and granulometric parameters. In the data hydraulic parameters survey it was found that the presence of Santa Rosa Island along with bar divides the river channel in two sectors of distinct dynamic hydraulic and sediment. The main channel leads to a higher portion of the flow, it is more energetic, while the secondary channel has lower values in these two parameters. The separation of the flow also causes the formation of divergent currents towards the main channel, favoring the decrease in velocity and consequent deposition of sediments near to Santa Rosa Island. It was found that the morphology of the bar is directly linked to fluctuations in the flow of the Paraná River, during periods of high water there is more reworking, since in this average water period partially preserved its shape, emerging in part. As for sediment, the fine diameter particles are distributed in areas of higher flow velocity and depth (thalweg) in both analyzed periods. From medium to coarse diameter particles are, in the high-water period, distributed in the studied area, although in the average water period these sediments are located in low flow velocity and depth (Bar and Secondary Channel). Specific stream power and shields parameter values are larger in the main channel in both periods, indicating... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)<br>Orientador: José Cândido Stevaux<br>Coorientador: Mario Luis Assine<br>Banca: Paulo Fernando Soares<br>Banca: Antônio Roberto Saad<br>Mestre

Considérés comme des fleurons technologiques depuis l’avènement de l’hydroélectricité, les barrages apportent une réponse aux irrégularités spatio-temporelles de l’eau à l’échelle d’un territoire. Mais la construction de ces ouvrages hydrauliques en rivière ne s’effectue jamais sans dommages environnementaux. Les dommages principaux sont d’ordres écologiques et sociétaux. Les barrages réduisent en effet la richesse écologique des hydrosystèmes fluviaux ; ils constituent des obstacles au continuum fluvial. Toutefois, les effets des barrages en rivières dépendent de la taille, du type et du mode de gestion de chaque ouvrage. Sur le bassin du Congo, en l’occurrence sur l’Oubangui, la connaissance des effets des barrages est encore sommaire. Ainsi, cette thèse aborde de manière inédite les barrages de l’Oubangui à travers leurs impacts négatifs sur la continuité hydrosédimentaire. Il aborde aussi bien les barrages fonctionnels que les barrages planifiés. Des analyses hydrostatistiques, sédimentologiques et géomatiques, couplées aux investigations de terrains, ont permis d’évaluer les effets hydrosédimentaires des barrages fonctionnels sur l’Oubangui. Par ailleurs, une « extrapolation hydrologique » a été conduite en vue de prospecter les effets potentiels prévisibles des barrages projetés<br>Considered as technological jewels since the advent of hydropower, dams provide an answer to the spatio-temporal irregularities of water at the scale of a territory. But the construction of these hydraulic structures in the river never takes place without environmental damage. The main damages are ecological and societal. Dams reduce the ecological wealth of river hydrosystems; they constitute obstacles to the fluvial continuum. However, the effects of dams in rivers depend on the size, type and management of each structure. In the Congo Basin, in this case on Ubangui, knowledge of the effects of dams is still sketchy. So, this thesis deals in an unprecedented way with the Ubangui dams through their negative impacts on the hydrosedimentary continuity. It covers both functional dams and planned dams. Hydrostatistic, sedimentological and geomatic analyzes, coupled with field investigations, have made it possible to evaluate the hydrosedimentary effects of functional dams on Ubangi. In addition, a "hydrological extrapolation" was carried out in order to explore the predictable potential effects of projected dams

L’impact anthropique sur les cours d’eau a significativement augmenté suite à la révolution industrielle engagée par les pays occidentaux. Ainsi, les modifications de la géomorphologie des cours d’eau pour le stockage de l’eau et la navigation, la conversion des surfaces à des fins agricoles, industrielles et d’urbanisation illustrent cette pression environnementale, qui se traduit, en autre, par une augmentation de rejets de divers contaminants dans les compartiments environnementaux et notamment les rivières. Une part de ces rejets peut donc se retrouver dans les matières en suspension, considérées alors comme des puits de stockage, qui transitent dans les rivières. Les aménagements des rivières et notamment la construction de barrages favorisent alors la sédimentation de ces particules contaminées au cours du temps. Ces sédiments d’origines anthropiques, également appelés legacy sediments, sont donc les témoins des activités anthropiques et permettent de reconstruire les trajectoires temporelles des contaminations au sein des bassins versants. L’Eure, affluent majeur de l’estuaire de Seine, a connu d’importantes pressions anthropiques depuis le vingtième siècle. La reconstruction temporelle des pressions anthropiques a nécessité l’association de différentes approches méthodologiques : (i) une analyse diachronique des modifications morphologiques de la rivière a été menée, conjointement à (ii) une analyse de la dynamique sédimentaire et de la nature des dépôts sédimentaires par couplage de méthodes géophysiques, sédimentologiques et géochimiques, et à (iii) la mise en place d’un réseau de suivi du comportement hydro-sédimentaire avec un échantillonnage en continu des matières en suspensions. De profondes modifications géomorphologiques se sont produites en aval du bassin versant, avec pour principales conséquences un exutoire déplacé d’une dizaine de kilomètres en direction d’un barrage et la formation d’annexes hydrauliques favorisant l’accumulation de sédiments dès les années 1940. Ceux-ci ont permis de montrer que le bassin versant de l’Eure avait connu d’importantes contaminations dont les conséquences sont encore enregistrées malgré l’arrêt des activités ou usages. Les tendances temporelles des éléments traces métalliques et métalloïdes ont montré de fortes contaminations en As dans les années 1940 et des contaminations d’origines industrielles en Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag et Cd durant les années 1960–1970, ainsi que des contaminations en Sb et Pb en 1990–2000. Ces dernières sont toujours enregistrées malgré l’arrêt des activités responsables des rejets, comme l’ont attesté les résultats issus des matières en suspension actuellement collectées dans le cours d’eau. A l’instar d’une majorité des métaux traces, les contaminants organiques, tels les HAPs, ont montré d’importantes contaminations durant les années 1940–1960, dont les signatures indiquent une origine majoritairement pyrogénique. Les PCBs ont montré des contaminations importantes lors de la période 1950–1970, en lien avec la production et les usages nationaux de mélanges composés en majorité de congénères faiblement chlorés. Enfin, l’intérêt porté à une troisième famille de contaminants organiques persistants, les pesticides organochlorés, a montré l’utilisation de lindane et du DDT notamment lors de la période 1940–1970, et a mis en avant d’une part une utilisation post-interdiction du lindane et d’autre part la présence d’un métabolite du DDT plusieurs décennies après l’arrêt d’utilisation de ce dernier, en lien avec l’augmentation de l’érosion des sols cultivés<br>The anthropogenic impact on rivers has significantly increased following the industrial revolutioninitiated by Western countries. Thus, changes in the geomorphology of rivers for water storage andnavigation, the conversion of land for agricultural, industrial and urbanization purposes illustrate thisenvironmental pressure, which results, among other things, in an increase in discharges of variouscontaminants into environmental compartments, particularly rivers. Therefore, part of these dischargescan end up in suspended particulate matter, which is then considered as storage wells, which transit inrivers. River development, particularly the construction of dams, encourages the sedimentation of these contaminated particles over time. These sediments of anthropogenic origin, also called legacy sediments, are therefore witnesses to human activities and make it possible to reconstruct the temporal trajectories of contamination within watersheds. The Eure River, a major tributary of the Seine estuary, has experienced significant anthropogenic pressures since the twentieth century. The temporal reconstruction of anthropogenic pressures has required the combination of different methodological approaches: (i) a diachronic analysis of the morphological modifications of the river was carried out, in conjunction with (ii) an analysis of the sedimentary dynamics and the nature of the sediment deposits by coupling geophysical, sedimentological and geochemical methods, and (iii) the setting up of a network for monitoring the hydro-sedimentary behaviour with continuous sampling of suspended particulate matter. Significant geomorphological changes have occurred in the lower reaches of the watershed, with the main consequences being an outlet moved some ten kilometres in the direction of a dam and the formation of hydraulic annexes favouring the accumulation of sediments as early as the 1940s. These made it possible to show that the Eure River watershed had experienced significant contamination, the consequences of which are still being recorded despite the cessation of activities or uses. The temporal trends of trace metal and metalloid elements showed strong contaminations in As in the 1940s and contaminations of industrial origin in Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag and Cd in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as contaminations in Sb and Pb in 1990–2000. The latter are still recorded despite the cessation of the activities responsible for the discharges, as evidenced by the results from the suspended particulate matter currently collected in the river. Like most trace metals, organic contaminants such as PAHs showed significant contamination during the 1940–1960s, with signatures indicating a predominantly pyrogenic origin. PCBs showed significant contamination during the period 1950–1970, in connection with the production and national uses of mixtures composed mainly of low chlorinated congeners. Finally, interest in a third family of persistent organic contaminants, organochlorine pesticides, showed the use of lindane and DDT, particularly during the 1940–1970 period, and highlighted the post-ban use of lindane and the presence of a metabolite of DDT several decades after the cessation of its use, in connection with the increase in erosion of cultivated soils

Mestrado em Engenharia Civil<br>A presente dissertação tem como principal objectivo estudar o assoreamento que acontece nas albufeiras de barragens, de forma a caracterizar e quantificar as zonas de deposição de sedimentos fluviais. Através de ensaios, no canal hidráulico do Departamento de Engenharia Civil da Universidade de Aveiro, foi possível observar a formação de depósitos de sedimentos em forma de delta, na região de transição da influência da barragem, onde se forma o regolfo. Posteriormente, com a alteração das condições do escoamento, verificou-se que os depósitos se deslocaram, para uma região mais próxima da barragem, passando a depósitos com forma de secção decrescente. Com este trabalho, também foi possivel verificar experimentalmente, a eficiência do funcionamento dos descarregadores de fundo para transposição de sedimentos. Nestes ensaios experimentais, obtiveram-se resultados que mostram que a quantidade de sedimentos, que transpõe a barragem através dos descarregadores de fundo é insignificante, quando comparada com a quantidade total de sedimentos depositados na albufeira. Numericamente, recorrendo às curvas de BRUNE (1953), às curvas de Churchill e ao método da área-incremento, procurou-se chegar aos resultados obtidos experimentalmente, de forma a avaliar até que ponto estes métodos traduzem a realidade do que acontece nas albufeiras. O estudo do assoreamento em albufeiras é de grande importância, uma vez que também está associado ao problema de recuo da linha de costa, pois os sedimentos que deveriam chegar à foz dos rios e passar a fazer parte do sistema de deriva litoral, ficam retidos nas albufeiras.<br>The present dissertation main objective is to study silting in dam reservoirs in order to characterize and quantify the areas of river sediments deposition. Through laboratory tests performed in the flow channel of Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, it was possible to observe the formation of sediment deposits in a delta form, in the region where backwater is formed. Later, with the change of flow conditions, it was verified that the deposits moved to a region near the dam, forming tapering deposits. With this work, it was possible to experimentally verify the efficiencyof sediments transposition through bottom sluice of the dam. The obtained results show that the sediment amount that crosses the dam is insignificant, when compared with the total amount of sediments deposited in the reservoir. The experimental results were confronted with numerical ones, using the BRUNE (1953) curve, the Churchill curves and the empirical area-reduction method. This was performed in order to assess how these methods reflect the reality of what happens in reservoirs. The study of reservoir sedimentation is of great importance, since this problem is linked with shoreline reduction, due the lack of sediments, because sediments that should reach the mouth of the river are traped in reservoirs.