Belleville Locks Dam River Hydrodynamic Investigation (OH, USA)

On January 6, 2005 the M/V Jon J. Strong had several barges swept into the Belleville Locks & Dam just after locking through going up river. The Belleville Locks & Dam (L&D) is located a River Mile 203.8 on the Ohio River between the States of Ohio and West Virginia.

DSI was contracted by Gault, Marshall & Miller, PLLC (GMM) to conduct a hydrodynamic modeling study of the Belleville L&D. GMM represented the owners of the M/V Jon J. Strong. The objective of the study was to determine the two-dimensional (2D,depth averaged) river velocity patterns during the period leading up to and just past the time of the accident on January 6, 2005 at about 09:00 to 09:30 AM. The time varying velocity patterns for the areas above and below the dam and locks were determined. These flow patterns were then used by barge navigation experts to determine the possible cause of the accident.

The models were calibrated to two physical models that were used during the design phases of a new hydropower facility at the L&D. The 3D hydrodynamic model produced excellent match to the physical model results.

Expert witness services were provided to the client for depositions and trial preparation. The lawsuit was settled out of court.