Stability Assessment of the Surrounding Areas of the Powerhouse at the Damo Hydropower Station

Abstract The Damo Hydropower Station, a critical infrastructure facility, requires a thorough stability assessment to ensure its safe operation and reliability. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the powerhouse area's stability, focusing on the geological and hydrogeological conditions, existing deformations, and their underlying causes and trends. The Damo station's vicinity to active and historical coal mining regions, particularly the K7, K8, and K10 seams, poses significant challenges to its structural stability. The research employs the Mohr‐Coulomb plastic model in FLAC3D and UDEC simulations to scrutinize the deformation induced by mining activities. Key findings indicate that subsidence is the primary deformation type, with the powerhouse area experiencing cumulative horizontal and vertical displacements, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and risk management. The study concludes with an anticipated subsidence of 0.90 to 1.25 meters and suggests enhanced monitoring and strategic risk control measures, especially for the pressure pipeline, to ensure the long‐term integrity of the Damo Hydropower Station.