Selection of parameters monitoring the reliable operation of concrete dams

Conclusions

• 1. The conditionality of any calculation scheme of the static behavior of a structure does not make it possible to assign design values of the maximum seepage discharge, settlement of the foundation, displacement of the dam crest, level of stresses, and character of their distribution.

• 2. An analysis of the actual data on the behavior of the dam during its construction and filling of the reservoir determines the actual nonsolidity and even technological factors in its state of stress and strain, which gives information for retrospective mathematical modeling of the real behavior of the structure. The actual data during the first years of operation make it possible to correct the scheme and to substantiate the newly established phenomena: seasonal nonsolidity, asymmetry of settlement and displacements, effect of the form of the sections on their behavior, etc.

• 3. The parameters monitoring the reliable operation of a dam are established after the first years of operation on the basis of the following premise: the extreme values of the parameters selected on the basis of the maximum observed values or those calculated by a regression analysis are not the maximum allowable, but only reflect the elastic behavior of the dam and foundation within the scope of the adopted scheme.

• 4. The elastic behavior of the dam and foundation is determined by absence of irreversible processes for a given combination of acting forces. The occurrence of an irreversible component in the measured values of the monitored parameters can be the consequence either of a new combination of acting forces or new reaction of the dam and foundation under the former loads. In this case, refinement of the former dependences of the monitored parameters on the acting loads is necessary and equipping of parts of the structure and foundation with additional monitoring and measuring instruments for obtaining reliable actual data enabling substantiation of the new criteria of reliable operation of the dam is possible.