Position Paper Dam Safety and Earthquakes

CIGB ICOLD

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781351035927
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Civil Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Earthquakes have always been a significant aspect of the design and safety of dams. This position paper deals with the seismic safety of large dams, based on experiences with large earthquakes in Japan (Tohoku earthquake, 2011, Richter magnitude 9.0), in China (Wenchuan earthquake, 2008, Richter magnitude 8.0) and in Chile (Maule earthquake, 2010, Richter magnitude 8.8). It presents ways to prevent key aspects of large dam failure under severe seismic conditions with a focus on design instead of on earthquake prediction. This is done by considering the prevention of uncontrolled rapid release of water of a storage dam under full reservoir conditions in relation to expected seismic conditions.

This position paper is composed by the Committee on Seismic Aspects of Dam Design of The International Committee of Large Dams.

Les tremblements de terre ont toujours été un aspect important de la conception et de la sécurité des barrages. Ce document de synthèse traite de la sécurité sismique des grands barrages, en se fondant sur l'expérience acquise lors de grands séismes au Japon (séisme de Tohoku, 2011, magnitude 9, 0 sur l'échelle de Richter), en Chine (séisme de Wenchuan, 2008, magnitude 8, 0 sur l'échelle de Richter) et au Chili (séisme de Maule, 2010, magnitude 8, 8 sur l'échelle de Richter). Il présente des moyens de prévenir les aspects clés de la défaillance des grands barrages dans des conditions sismiques sévères en mettant l'accent sur la conception plutôt que sur la prévision des séismes. Pour ce faire, on examine la prévention d'une libération rapide et incontrôlée de l'eau d'un barrage de stockage dans des conditions de réservoir plein par rapport aux conditions sismiques prévues.

Cet argumentaire est composé par le Comité sur les Aspects Sismiques des Projets de Barrages de la Commission Internationale des Grands Barrages.

COMMITTEE ON SEISMIC ASPECTS OF DAM DESIGN
COMITÉ SUR LES ASPECTS SISMIQUES DES PROJETS DE BARRAGES

(2017-2020)

Chairman / Président
Switzerland / Suisse	M. WIELAND
Members / Membres
Australia / Australie	I. LANDON-JONES
Austria / Autriche	G. ZENZ
Argentina / Argentine	J. CARMONA
Bulgaria / Bulgarie	M. PETKOV
Canada	K. ADDO
Chile / Chili	F. RAMOS
China / Chine	H. WANG
Colombia / Colombie	C. MARULANDA
Costa Rica	A. CLIMENT
Egypt / Egypte	A. RASHED
Ethiopia / Ethiopie	A. AMAN
Germany / Allemagne	K. TERHEIDEN
India / Inde	R. VISHNOI
Iran	S. AHMADI ADLI
Italy / Italie	R. CARUANA
Japan / Japon	T. SASAKI
Korea (Rep. of) / Corée (Rép. de)	D. KIM
Macedonia (Rep. of North) / Macédoine du Nord (Rép. de)	L. PETKOVSKI
Mexico / Mexique	M. ROMO
New Zealand / Nouvelle Zélande	T. MATUSCHKA
Norway / Norvège	K. HOEG
Portugal	P. SECO E PINTO
Russia / Russie	A. BUGAEVSKY
Spain / Espagne	F. BLAZQUEZ PRIETO
Sri lanka	B. KENDARAGAMA
Thailand / Thaïlande	T. HARNPATTANAPANICH
United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni	L. SPASIC-GRIL
United States / États-Unis	L. MEJIA

Introduction

Until March 11, 2011 no people have died from the failure or damage of a large water storage dam due to earthquake. However, during the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake in Japan in 2011 an 18.5 m high embankment dam failed, and the flood wave created by the release of the reservoir caused the loss of eight lives.

Earthquakes have always been a significant aspect of the design and safety of dams.

A large storage dam consists of a concrete or fill dam with a height exceeding 15 m, a grout curtain or cut-off to minimise leakage of water through the dam foundation, a spillway for the safe release of floods, a bottom outlet for lowering the reservoir in emergencies, and a water intake structure to take the water from the reservoir for commercial use. Depending on the use of the reservoir there are other components such as a power intake, penstock, powerhouse, device for control of environmental flow, fish ladder, etc.

During the Richter magnitude 8 Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008, 1803 concrete and embankment dams and reservoirs and 403 hydropower plants were damaged. Likewise, during the 27 February 2010 Maule earthquake in C...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Committee on Seismic Aspects of Dam Design
• Introduction
• What Earthquake Action Does a Dam Have to Withstand?
• Seismic Hazard is a Multi-Hazard
• What Could Happen in the Case of Strong Earthquakes?
• Could Reservoirs Be Lowered in Case of Successful Earthquake Predictions?
• Can Earthquakes Be Triggered by Storage Dams?
• What are the Main Concerns with Respect to the Earthquake Safety of Large Storage Dams?
• The Role of ICOLD
• Conclusions
• Photos Related to Dam Safety and Earthquakes