Challenges in applying nanotechnology to the construction of coastal protection structures and bank reinforcement measures for reservoirs: case study of the Novosibirsk reservoir

Introduction. The use of nanomaterials and nanotechnology represents one of the most important areas in global scientific and technological development. Nanotechnology involves the controlled regulation of the properties of objects at the molecular and supramolecular level, which determine most of the fundamental parameters and properties of physical objects, based on the targeted manipulation of their atoms and molecules. In hydraulic engineering, this involves the use of nanomaterials and technologies that improve the properties of building materials and structures, increasing their durability and resistance to external influences. Methods and materials. The Novosibirsk Reservoir is a unique multi-purpose water facility. For more than 60 years, it has been intensively used for national economic purposes – it is a source of water supply, the main recreation area for residents of Novosibirsk, the Novosibirsk Region, and the Altai Territory, and is used for navigation and fisheries. There are 41 settlements located within a two-kilometer zone of the reservoir's coastal strip, including the cities of Kamen-na-Obi, Berdsk, Iskitim, and Ordynskoe. The forested coastal area is home to health resorts, cottage and dacha settlements, and gardening communities, as well as a place for short-term recreation for the population. In this regard, the recreational load on the coastal zone of the reservoir is very high, partly due to the steepness of the banks. Various methods are used to calculate the design of shore protection hydraulic structures on water bodies, which take into account, first of all, the natural conditions and characteristics of the water body's shoreline. The results of the calculations are verified and refined on the basis of field studies and, if necessary, laboratory tests and experiments. Results. The paper presents calculations for determining the design parameters of the structure, such as: wind surge height, wave run-up height, top elevation of the structure, scour in front of the stone bank, design composition of the stone bank, and parameters of the stone bank. Discussion. Currently, there are many varieties of nanoscale additives and nanomodified materials. The possibilities for implementing modification mechanisms are determined by the type, characteristics, and dosage of nanoscale particles. As a suggestion, the authors propose to pay attention to the use of geogrids with different cell sizes and nanomodified concretes. However, it should be noted that at present, even with a low required content of nanomodifying additives (2–3% of the total mass of concrete), the addition of such additives will significantly increase the cost of the material. A comparison of technical and economic indicators in this case will clearly indicate this disadvantage and, as a result, the impossibility of using this option for economic reasons. Conclusion. One of the most important criteria for assessing the prospects for the introduction of nanotechnological innovations in the construction industry is their final cost. Nanomodifiers for concrete and building mortars at a price of $100 per gram, even though their strength properties increase by 30%, are unlikely to be in demand. Most of the experts agree that nanostructuring should be applied to widely used materials, including concrete, metals, and fiber-based composites. These breakthrough technologies can be applied in many areas, including hydraulic engineering, strengthening concrete foundations of gas transmission systems, creating flexible plastic geogrids, selecting and creating new high-quality fillers for them, etc. Also, thanks to new nanomaterials, it is possible to produce metal that will last an order of magnitude longer than modern samples. There are sufficient scientific developments in this area. Now it is necessary to find practical applications for them. However, this vector of development entails the need for production reequipment, staff training, and so on.