Large Dams

ESTIMATION OF EARTHQUAKE INDUCED DRY SETTLEMENTS OF CFR DAMS

by Dimitris Egglezos

published in Proceedings of the 4rth Japan- Greece Workshop, October 2011, Kobe Japan.

ABSTRACT: The estimation of dry settlement, arising from seismic action, is a significant
factor for the proper... more ABSTRACT: The estimation of dry settlement, arising from seismic action, is a significant
factor for the proper design of rockfill dams. This applies particularly to Concrete Face Rockfill
(CFR) Dams, where the deformed (due to the settlement) dam geometry imposes increased
stress upon the concrete slab of the upstream face. In this work, a simple method for calculating
dynamic dry settlement in CFR dams is presented, based on simple empirical relations for a) estimating
settlement on sand from earthquake (Egglezos 2008), and b) calculating a notional value
of void ratio for gravel (instead of the actual value) in order to simulate dynamic behavior of
gravel to that of an imaginary sand material referring hitherto as “equivalent sand” (Egglezos,
2010). The application of these empirical relations allows the estimation of rockfill settlement,
through relevant equations for sand (Egglezos 2007, 2010). The results from the empirical relations
apply directly to a 2-D ordinary static FE analysis, in order to obtain the post earthquake
stress-strain field and the permanent deformation (vertical settlement and lateral spreading) induced
from the seismic shock. The deformed geometry of the CFRD may be exploited for determining
the concrete slab stress state, aiming to an effective design.

The Canadian feasibility study of the Three Gorges Dam proposed for China's Yangzi River: A grave embarrassment to the impact assessment profession.

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 1994.  The Canadian feasibility study of the Three Gorges Dam proposed for China's Yangzi River: A grave embarrassment to the impact assessment profession. Impact Assessment 12(1): 21-57.

Earlier version:
Fearnside, P.M. 1993.  Resettlement Plans for China's Three Gorges Dam. pp. 34-58, 171-173 In: M. Barber and G. Ryder (eds.) Damming the Three Gorges, Second Edition. Probe International/ Earthscan, Toronto, Canada. 183 pp.
http://www.threegorgesprobe.org/pi/documents/three_gorges/Damming3G/ch03.html

China's Three Gorges Dam: "Fatal" project or step toward modernization?

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 1988.  China's Three Gorges Dam: "Fatal" project or step toward modernization? World Development 16(5): 615-630. doi:10.1016/0305-750X(88)90190-8

A Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte em pauta

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. A Usina Hidrelétrica de Belo Monte em pauta. Política Ambiental. No. 7, pp. 4-20. ISSN 1809-8185. [http://www.conservation.org.br/publicacoes/index.php?t=5]

Emissões: Os impactos mais renegados das hidrelétricas.

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. Emissões: Os impactos mais renegados das hidrelétricas. Contra Corrente, No. 3: 27-30.

Belo Monte: Resposta a Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2010. Belo Monte: Resposta a Rogério Cezar de Cerqueira Leite. Site Globoamazonia 07/06/10 http://colunas.globoamazonia.com/philipfearnside/

See Amazon Controversies:
http://philip.inpa.gov.br/publ_livres/AMAZONIAN CONTROVERSIES.htm

Will the Belo Monte Dam’s benefits outweigh the costs?

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. Will the Belo Monte Dam’s benefits outweigh the costs? Latin America Energy Advisor, 21-25 Feb. 2011, p. 6.  [http://www.thedialogue.org]

Emissões: Os impactos mais renegados das hidrelétricas.

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2011. Emissões: Os impactos mais renegados das hidrelétricas. Contra Corrente, No. 3: 27-30.

Má Fé em Belo Monte?

by Philip Fearnside

Fearnside, P.M. 2010. Má Fé em Belo Monte? O Estado de São Paulo 20/04/10 [comentário on line] http://cadastro.estadao.com.br/comentarios?guid=37DEA1D617294CC784FC49E133500D9C&editoria=Economia&produto=economia&titulo_pg=Justi%C3%A7a%20cassa%20liminar%20e%20libera%20leil%C3%A3o%20de%20Belo%20Monte&url_pg=http://economia.estadao.com.br/noticias/empresas-e-negocios,justica-cassa-liminar-e-libera-leilao-de-belo-monte--diz-agu,not_14556.htm

China's Three Gorges Dam

by Philip Fearnside

MISTRAL: An Expert System for the Management of Warnings From Automatic Monitoring Systems of Dams

by Marco Lazzari

Marco Lazzari, Paolo Salvaneschi, "MISTRAL: an expert for the
mangement of warnings from automatic monitoring systems of dams", Proceedings of the 2nd Specialist Seminar on integrated CAD of earthquake resistant buildings and civil structures, April 19-23, 1993, Ljubliana: FAGG, IKPIR, p. 156-162, ISBN/ISSN: 86-80223-27-1

Applying AI to Structural Safety Monitoring and Evaluation

by Marco Lazzari

Paolo Salvaneschi, Mauro Cadei, Marco Lazzari, "Applying AI to structural safety monitoring and evaluation", IEEE Expert, 11(4), 1996

AI concepts and technologies can assist engineers in safety management by providing new software components to the... more AI concepts and technologies can assist engineers in safety management by providing new software components to the existing information systems, such as real-time interpretation systems linked to the data acquisition units, qualitative models, and reasoning agents supporting the off-line management of information and interpretation.
In this article, we describe four decision - support systems that use such concepts and technologies to better manage the safety of civil engineering structures. During the last six years, the software development unit of ISMES -an R &D company involved in structural and mechanical engineering, environmental and land -use engineering, and information and communication technologies -has focused on AI applications to structural safety. We have addressed two main problems: the safety management of dams and monuments and the seismic risk assessment of buildings.
This led to the development of the four systems: Mistral, Damsafe, Kaleidos, and Igor.
We exploit AI tools for designing intelligent modules of our support systems, including causal networks of processes, qualitative modeling, model -based reasoning, and hierarchical object-oriented representations.
The systems also employ AI techniques such as rule -based systems, pattern matching, and neural networks, in conjunction with conventional techniques, to implement these representation and reasoning schemes.

Discussing large dams in Asia after the World Commission on Dams: Is a political ecology approach the way forward?

by Ravi Baghel

(2010) Co-authored with Marcus Nüsser, published in Water Alternatives 3(2) 231-248

The guidelines proposed in the World Commission on Dams (WCD) final report were vehemently rejected by several Asian... more The guidelines proposed in the World Commission on Dams (WCD) final report were vehemently rejected by several Asian governments, and dam building has continued apace in most Asian countries. This reaction is in line with the simplistic dam debate, where dam critics offer laundry lists of socioeconomic and environmental costs, and dam proponents highlight the benefits while underestimating associated costs. Whereas the WCD sought to evaluate dams in terms of 'costs and benefits', this approach is self-defeating due to the very subjectivity of such measurements. This paper argues that the way ahead must be to move beyond a consensus evaluation of dams, and instead examine the shifting asymmetries and discursive flows that sustain and promote dam building over time. However, such an analysis of the dam discourse must incorporate an understanding of the multiple actors and driving forces, as well as the underlying power relations within this politicised environment. We therefore suggest that a post-structural political ecology approach provides a suitable framework for the future examination of large dams in Asia.

KEYWORDS: World Commission on Dams, political ecology, Anthropocene, large dams, post-structural political ecology