Needs and Funding;
Sept. 27-28, 2007
4
Consolidated Dam Safety Research Needs List
6
Current Dam Related Research
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Baals, John |
BOR |
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Becker, Brian |
BOR |
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Nuss, Larry |
BOR |
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Guttierez, David |
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Schultz, Mark |
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Allerton, Bill |
FERC |
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Brand, Bruce |
FERC |
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USACE |
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Private
Sector |
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Charlwood, Robin |
Consultant |
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Ehasz, Joseph |
Washington Group |
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France, John |
URS |
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Ghanaat, Yusof |
Quest Structures |
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Johnson, Daniel |
GEI; USSD |
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Vazinkhoo, Saman |
BC Hydro |
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Nguyen, Phuong |
Hydro |
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Tarbox, Glenn |
MWH |
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Tjoumas, Gus |
CEATI |
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Vazinkhoo, Saman |
BC Hydro |
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Yen, John |
Southern California |
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Academia |
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Bowles, David |
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Duron, Zeyad |
Harvey-Mudd |
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Ko, Hon-Yim |
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Leger, Pierre |
Polytechnic of |
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Saouma, Victor |
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Suarez, Luis |
Univ. of Puerto-Rico |
Thursday Sept. 27:
Session I:
Introduction
8:30-8:35 Welcoming remarks, Prof. Sture, Vice Chancellor for Research
8:35-8:40 Welcoming remarks, Saouma
8:40-8:50 Overview, Nuss
8:50-9:00 Opening remarks, Charlwood
Session II Presentations
on policy, practice and current projects
Moderator: Charlwood, Recorder: Nuss
9:10-9:20
9:20-9:30 National Dam Safety Program France, Becker
9:40-9:50 CEATI Tjoumas
10:20-10:30
10:40-10:50 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Brand, Allerton
11:00-11:10 University Perspective Duron, Ko, Leger, Suarez, Saouma
11:10-11:20 Utility Companies perspective Yen
11:20-11:30 Consultants perspective
Ghanaat
Session III Reports on Activities
Moderator: Duron
2:20:2:40 USSD/ICOLD (Aging) Charlwood
2:40-3:00 FEMA (Seismology, Embankments) Hall (Audio-Conference)
Session IV Research
Identification
4:00-4:30 Summary of current research funding (Saouma, Duron)
Informal No-Host
Reception/Dinner
Friday Sept.
28
Session V Research
Support
Moderator: Guttierez
8:15-8:45 Sites and Facilities to perform research (Universities, others)
8::45-9:00 Peer Review of Research (USSD, others)
Session VI Strategic
Planning
Moderators; Charlwood and Saouma
Pictures of notes recorded by
The following list (compiled by
In addition the work of Nuss and his committee of reviewers, lists of research needs put forth by the Interagency Committee of Dams (ICODs), the National Dam Safety Review Board (NDSRB), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are also included.
The research needs in these lists are listed numerically. In the case of the NUSS list and the NDSRB list, the topics are listed in descending order of importance. The prioritization of theses lists was done by the generators of the lists, not by the compiler. In the case of ICODs and FERC, no attempt was made to establish a prioritization because FERC and ICODS did not assign priorities.
When a item identified by one of these agencies coincides with an item in the another list, this is pointed out by the appearance of the item number in the respective agencies’ column on the right side of the spreadsheet. In addition, when there is redundancy between two or three agencies, this is pointed out in a similar manor.
For example “Validate soil constitutive models” was identified in the Nuss list, and was also appeared as item 3 in the ICODs list and item 6 in the FERC list. There has been numerous priority lists in the past. Larry has summarized them in this, and Bruce will consolidate and finalize it.
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NDSRB |
ICODS |
FERC |
NUSS |
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List
from National Dam Safety Review Board |
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1 |
Develop a marketing plan and
outreach strategy to promote the significance of EAP’s . |
1 |
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2 |
Guidance on the design and construction
of overtopping protection of earth embankments |
2 |
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3 |
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3 |
Documentation of the hydraulic
design criteria for embankment stepped spillways |
3 |
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4 |
Development of the historical, regional
databases of storms and floods |
4 |
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27 |
27 |
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5 |
Guidelines for the
evaluation of the hydrologic safety of dams |
5 |
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6 |
Development of regional hydrology
parameters |
6 |
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7 |
Improved technology transfer of GIS,
NEXRAD, and meteorological data |
7 |
7 |
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8 |
Guidance on methodologies to
address snowmelt contributions to the inflow design flood |
8 |
9 |
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9 |
Guidelines for state utilization of
standard and consistent approaches to inundation mapping |
9 |
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10 |
Additional research on breach
parameters, the results of breaches, and inundation mapping |
10 |
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11 |
Guidelines on acceptable/tolerable
risk criteria need development |
11 |
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12 |
Guidance on performing failure
mode identification, including a list of failure modes for outlets works |
12 |
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13 |
Extension of frequency curves to
rare Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) |
13 |
1 |
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14 |
Evaluation of the earthquake
effects on small earth and concrete dams |
14 |
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15 |
Practice manual on the use of
chemicals and bio-barriers in dam applications |
15 |
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16 |
Research on use of soil bacteria for stabilizing
liquefiable soil in earthquake-prone locations |
16 |
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17 |
Inspection procedures to identify
potential seismic deficiencies at small earth and concrete dams |
17 |
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ICODS
List |
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1 |
Frequency Of Extreme Hydrologic
Events For Dams |
13 |
1 |
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2 |
Consistent Assessment Of
Earthquake Ground Motions At Dams |
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2 |
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3 |
Consistent Assessment Of
Liquefaction Resistance And Deformation Analysis Of Embankment Dams |
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3 |
6 |
4,8 |
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4 |
Piping And Internal Erosion In
Dams |
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4 |
4 |
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5 |
Consistent Assessment Of Static
And Dynamic Structural Stability Of Concrete Dams |
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5 |
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6 |
Addressing Hydrologic Adequacy Of
Dams On The Same Watershed |
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6 |
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7 |
Determination Of The Probable
Maximum Precip. In Assessing The
Hydrologic Adequacy Of Dams |
7 |
7 |
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8 |
Rainfall-Runoff Modeling In
Assessing The Hydrologic Adequacy Of Dams |
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8 |
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9 |
Snowmelt Calculations In Assessing
The Hydrologic Adequacy Of Dams |
8 |
9 |
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FERC
List Presented at the September 2007 Workshop in |
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1 |
Research on debris plugging of
spillways during extreme flood events |
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1 |
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2 |
Gather gate reliability data as a
function of maintenance and testing |
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2 |
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3 |
Errodibility of earth embankments
as a function of Overtopping depth, Soil type, & Vegetation cover |
2 |
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3 |
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4 |
Develop methods for predicting /
monitoring piping. (Flow Tomography?) |
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4 |
4 |
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5 |
Develop failure modes for concrete
dams |
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5 |
11 |
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6 |
Develop a soil liquefaction
numerical model with realistically obtainable parameters |
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3 |
6 |
4,8 |
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Composite
List Compiled by Larry Nuss (Bureau of Reclamation) |
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1 |
Compare theoretical analyses of
different types to observed case histories |
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1 |
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2 |
Determine failure modes of
concrete dams through physical model testing |
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5 |
2 |
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3 |
Determine the level of damping in
concrete dams |
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3 |
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4 |
Validate soil constitutive models |
3 |
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6 |
4 |
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5 |
Develop methods to predict and
mitigate transverse cracking in embankments |
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5 |
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6 |
Expand and update program of
strong motion instrumented dams |
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6 |
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7 |
Determine hydrodynamic loads on
spillway gates |
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7 |
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8 |
Develop better estimates of
liquefaction potential in problematic soils |
3 |
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6 |
8 |
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9 |
Determine reliability of insitu
soil test methods (SPT, Becker, Cone, Shear-wave) |
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9 |
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10 |
Application of seismic motions through
embankments |
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10 |
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11 |
Determine seismic response of
multiple arch dams |
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5 |
11 |
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12 |
Determine methods for coupled
dam/foundation block stability analysis |
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12 |
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13 |
Investigate cracking of embankment
dams |
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13 |
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14 |
Determine vulnerability of levees |
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14 |
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15 |
Earthquake monitoring in the
eastern US |
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15 |
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16 |
Develop constitutive models for
concrete |
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16 |
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17 |
Effects of spatially varying ground
motions |
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17 |
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18 |
Validate analyses by analyses of
laboratory tests |
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18 |
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19 |
Improve field sampling techniques |
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19 |
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20 |
Develop means to predict duration
& intensity for liquefaction/deformation analyses |
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20 |
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21 |
Guidance on risk methodology |
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21 |
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22 |
Develop simplified embankment
analysis procedures for low seismic areas |
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22 |
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23 |
Determine the effect of fault movement
under dams |
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23 |
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24 |
Perform and present more detailed
reviews of dam performance -lessons learned |
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24 |
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25 |
Guidance for probabilistic
analysis of ground motions |
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25 |
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26 |
Determine how uplift changes
during earthquake |
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26 |
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27 |
Study internal erosion potential
for clay soils |
4 |
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4 |
27 |
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28 |
Develop guidance for selection of
ground motions for representative parts of the |
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28 |
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29 |
Determine innovative rehabilitation
schemes for deficient spillways |
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29 |
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30 |
Determine strength of shear keys |
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30 |
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31 |
Determine stability of small
concrete dams on soil foundations |
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31 |
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32 |
Develop updated design and analysis
criteria for concrete dams |
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32 |
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33 |
Assessing the consequences of
embankment deformations |
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33 |
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34 |
Develop better near field ground
motions |
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34 |
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35 |
Develop consistent set of guidelines
for state and federal regulatory agencies |
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35 |
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36 |
Develop observational numerical
approach to embankment design |
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36 |
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37 |
Study embankment overtopping |
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37 |
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38 |
Develop 3 dim. Slope stability analysis
tools for embankment dams |
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38 |
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39 |
Upgrade attenuation relationships
for site conditions and directivity |
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39 |
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40 |
Develop guidance on selection of
subduction zone time histories |
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40 |
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41 |
Develop method to determine factor
of safety for underdrains in embankments |
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41 |
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42 |
Develop roller compacted
construction techniques for arch dams |
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42 |
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43 |
Determine dynamic soil pressures
on spillway crest structures |
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43 |
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44 |
Develop coupled thermal/structural
analysis method for predicting cracking in RCC |
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44 |
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45 |
Develop procedure for defining
background earthquakes in deterministic analyses |
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45 |
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46 |
Study progressive deformation of
dam foundation |
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46 |
|
47 |
Determine influence of low
velocity structures adjacent to normal and thrust faults |
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47 |
|
48 |
Determine embankment seismic
deformation using strain |
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48 |
|
49 |
Determine procedures for
measurement of reservoir bottom absorption |
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49 |
|
50 |
Study time for an embankment dam
to achieve steady state flow |
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50 |
|
51 |
Develop simplified analysis method
for seismic analysis of arch dams |
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51 |
Preliminary report for the Thursday meeting was assembled by Prof. Suarez.
e-Mail sent by David Guttierez:
Attached
is a document I couldn’t find on the website. This is the 1999 document
which led to the in depth research needs for each of the dam safety research
subjects. As you can see, they went through the entire dam safety issues
and outlined them in terms of priority. Next, an in-depth needs
assessment was completed for many of the issues which can be downloaded from
the sites below (Research
Reports Completed thus far: Seepage
through Embankment Dams (FEMA 535), Dam Spillways (FEMA
536), Spillway
Gates (FEMA 537), Hydrologic
Issues for Dams (FEMA 538), Impacts
of Plants & Animals on Earthen Dams (FEMA 540), Embankment
Dam Failure Analysis (FEMA 541), Risk Assessment for
Dams, Outlet Works,
The
Costs of Rehabilitating the Nation's Dams). There is one
completed for earthquake dam issues, but I don’t see it in either
website. I was part of that FEMA committee several years ago with
professors and other specialist around the country. I will find out what is the
hang-up with releasing this document, since it will fit our needs
perfectly. Also attached for your reference is the Dam Safety Research
strategic plan which explains the vision they had.
Here
are some websites that have the information you can download the actual
documents:
ASDSO
link showing the FEMA research needs completed for each subject area: http://www.damsafety.org/resources/?p=913e28b0-4f4e-425f-a36d-b8518b3e3f12
FEMA
link with some of the same information and more:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/damfailure/publications.shtm
National
Dam Safety Review Board Research goals/objectives: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/damfailure/research.shtm
Hope
this helps.
David
Following the workshop, a consensual press release was prepared and issued on January 9, 2008.
Contact:
Dan Johnson, (303) 440-5234
Carol Rowe, (303) 492-7426
Jan. 9, 2008
DAM EXPERTS ISSUE CALL TO
STRENGTHEN RESEARCH ON SAFETY
AND REHABILITATION OF
In the aftermath of America's poor infrastructure
report card on dams, as well as the levee failures in New Orleans and the
August bridge collapse in Minnesota, a group of dam experts is calling for more
research funding to develop better investigative and inspection techniques to
identify unsafe dams.
The experts want to see more economical and effective
rehabilitation of the nation's most deficient dams for the protection of the
public and other infrastructure.
The group of 25 engineers has wide representation
from government, the private sector and higher education, and most are members
of the United States Society on Dams, or USSD, and the Association of State Dam
Safety Officials, or ASDSO. They
endorsed the need to fund basic research to support national dam safety
initiatives for the protection of life and property at a
"Given the limited resources available to
address maintenance of our aging infrastructure, we must develop a rational
plan for rehabilitation based on thorough scientific research," said
workshop co-organizer
The American Society of Civil Engineers' 2005 Report
Card for
Of the 78,000 dams in the
Additionally, the ASDSO has estimated it would cost
more than $10 billion to upgrade the condition of all critical nonfederal dams
-- dams that pose a direct risk to human life should they fail.
Robin Charlwood, chairman of the Concrete Dams
Committee of the International Commission on Large Dams and a USSD board
member, stressed that investing in research now will save both time and money
in addressing long-term needs.
"There is a need to have more research and development to increase
the effectiveness and efficiency of the investment we must make in maintaining
the availability and safety of our dams," Charlwood said.
Dan Johnson, vice president of the USSD and a senior
water resources engineer with GEI Consultants in
"The federal government should allocate more resources
in an area where
technology was once a world leader. We are now at
risk of falling behind countries such as
As part of its declaration, the
David Gutierrez, chief of the Division of Safety of
Dams, California Department of Water Resources, expressed continued concern
with the complex behavior of dams during earthquakes and the limited research
being conducted compared with the nation's investment in these dams and the
cost of rehabilitating them.
For more information go to http://www.dam-research.org.
- 30 -
1. Priority List Bruce
2. Research List David G., Mark
a. Structures Victor
b. Risk David B.
c. Geotech DSOD
d. Hydraulics & Hydrology FERC
3. Write report: Luis and Larry
4. Set up Web Page: Victor
5. Contact consultants Glenn
6. First draft of “Boulder Statement” Victor
7. “Endorsement”
a. from USSD Dan
b. ASDSO Dave
c. NDSRB John
8. Follow up with CEATI Gus, Tai
A “secretariat” is in place to follow up: Bruce Brand, Robin
Charlwood,
For corrections, additions, suggestions, please contact
Prof.