Uncertainty Analysis for Determining Density of Deposits in Dam's Reservoirs

Density of deposits is bounded on different variables e.g. physical properties of sediment particles, rate of deposit's layer compaction and type of reservoir operation. These criteria have uncertainty and so the specific weight of deposits has the same problem. In this paper, the effective factors that influence the density of deposits in the reservoirs had been classified and then the basic concept of Delta method was stated as one of the popular techniques for analysis of uncertainties. Further, the case of Kenny reservoir in the White River basin at northern Colorado was selected to determine the specific weight of deposits in the reservoir and the coefficient of variation. The results of this investigation indicate that in the case of Kenny Reservoir the density of deposits is 1267 ± 125.6 (Mean ± SD) kg/m3, and the coefficient of variation of specific weight for accumulated deposits equals 9.9% for the period of 15 years of reservoir operation.