Geodynamic effects on the static behavior and safety of dams

Conclusions

• 1. High and superhigh (with a height of more than 200 m) dams are geoscale structures disturbing the energy balance of large near-surface parts of the earth's crust. Their interaction with surrounding rock masses cannot be described only by the laws of geomechanics and seismic stability only by calculation for the maximum possible seismic impact. Fast and slow neotectonic movements should be taken into account when evaluating dam safety.

• 2. The static and dynamic investigations and calculations of dams carried out earlier separately should be done jointly with consideration of the discrete properties of the surrounding rock masses.

• 3. The role and scientific level of on-site observations on high dams should be substantially increases. For this purpose the matter of creating a unified scientific-methodological center of the Commonwealth of Independent States and developing supplements to the existing standards.

• 4. As a necessary routine measure, dam operators should automate the recording of readings of the neotectonically most sensitive measurement means.

• 5. When preparing the new edition of the building code for earthquake engineering, the phenomenon of induced seismicity should be taken into account.