Measuring force and torque in the weir drive system of the Iffezheim Dam

The Iffezheim Dam was built as a combined Franco-German project following the agreement concluded between the two countries in 1969 concerning the widening of the River Rhine.

The Iffezheim Dam was built as a combined Franco-German project following the agreement concluded between the two countries in 1969 concerning the widening of the River Rhine. One of the most important parts of the dam, apart from a power station and lock system, is a six-channel weir. The weir gates are of sector form and can be raised about 11 m (36 ft) by means of side chains and winches. The two lifting chains of each weir gate have separate drives which, because they must run together, are connected through self-synchronizing motors (e.g. selsyns).

This article describes measurements of the chain forces and drive torques needed for raising and lowering a weir gate. The program of measurements was undertaken in order to verify by actual measurement the theoretical data on which the design of the weir drives was based.