Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 173-177). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (B.S.)--University of Missouri, School of Mines and Metallurgy, 1924. / Author has numbered two leaves with the same number (p. 30). The entire thesis text is included in file. Typescript. Illustrated by author. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed June 16, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 33).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--California Institute of Technology, 2004. / "October 2004." Includes bibliographical references. EERL report series available at their website: http://caltecheerl.library.caltech.edu.

Dams are relatively simple hydraulic structures that provide vital services to communities in the United States (U.S.). However, many of the dams in the (U.S.) have surpassed their design life. Dams experience changes from external threats that result in deformation of the structure. Traditional surveying techniques provide limited information on deformation in pre-determined areas of a structure, but the collection effort can often be lengthy. In this research, different instruments used for change detection were reviewed and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), also known as ground-based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), was selected as the most probable method to accurately evaluate deformation in dams. TLS is a remote sensing instrument that uses light to form a pulsed laser to measure ranges to variable targets, and it provides the ability to measure displacement with high accuracy using dense point clouds collected in a short amount of time. Deformation is identified by measuring changes in point clouds generated by TLS. The accuracy of TLS to identify deformation was tested on a thin arch dam at the Big Black Test site in Vicksburg, Mississippi, using the TLS system, Terrestrial Laser Scanner RIEGL VZ-400, for data collection and for registering scan positons between a pre-test condition and a post-test condition. Final data analysis was performed using Microstation TopoDOTTM Wall Monitoring Tool.

Le terme variabilité spatiale des mouvements sismiques (SVGM en anglais pour Spatial Variability of Ground Motion) désigne les différences entre deux mesures du mouvement du sol effectuées à différents endroits, généralement en surface. La modélisation de SVGM ainsi que son effet sur la réponse dynamique des barrages est nécessaire pour l'intégration du phénomène dans les codes parasismiques. L'étude actuelle présente une mesure et une enquête approfondie sur SVGM à l'interface barrage voûte - fondation rocher. Des mesures in situ sont utilisées pour sa quantification et des simulations numériques pour la compréhension plus approfondie des phénomènes physiques qui contribuent à SVGM notamment à l'interface, c-à-d la topographie de la voûte et l'interaction sol-structure. Les données in situ provient d'une campagne sismologique qui a eu lieu sur et autour le barrage voûte du Saint Guérin pendant six mois. Le sous-ensemble d'événements consiste des événements de faible à moyenne magnitude, locaux et régionaux. Ainsi, des analyses linéaires sont permises. Tout d'abord, l'analyse dynamique du barrage voûte est réalisée; les fréquences de vibration, le coefficient d'amortissement et l'amplification de crête sont estimées profitant des mesures continues de bruit ambiant et des enregistrements sismiques. Ensuite, le SVGM est quantifiée au moyen de la phase et de la variabilité d'amplitude en utilisant des estimations de cohérence et de l'écart type de la différence des amplitudes des spectres de Fourier respectivement. Forte variabilité est observée à la fois en phase et en amplitude à l'interface de barrage-fondation rocher. Une fois que les estimateurs de la variabilité sont obtenus à partir des données, les modèles paramétriques existants sont comparés avec eux. Accentuation est mis sur deux observations: 1) les mouvements sismiques au champ libre semblent être légèrement moins variable par rapport aux mouvements à l'interface barrage-fondation rocher et 2) à l'interface barrage-fondation rocher, il y a une variabilité plus forte autour des fréquences de vibration du barrage. Ces observations suggèrent que la présence de la structure ainsi que la topographie du canyon augmentent SVGM. Cette hausse semble cependant être faible étant donné que les observations sont montés par des modèles paramétriques satisfaisants basés sur des données provenant de réseaux sismiques plates (sans topographie et structure). Des simulations numériques dans le code SPECFEM3D, basé sur les éléments spectraux, sont utilisées pour étudier plus profondément les observations in situ par le découplage des différentes causes de SVGM et évaluer l'impact de chacune. Une étude paramétrique en utilisant une topographie du canyon simplifié tente d'identifier l'effet de la topographie du canyon local sur SVGM tandis qu'un modèle géométrique précis du barrage voûte à Saint Guérin et sa topographie du canyon nous donne une idée plus précise sur l'impact de l'interaction barrage-fondation rocher sur SVGM. Les résultats de cette recherche devraient contribuer à l'amélioration de notre compréhension de SVGM à l'interface barrage-fondation rocher et de proposer des modèles de variabilité utilisés dans la conception de barrages voûtes. / Spatial variability of seismic ground motions (SVGM) denotes the differences between two time histories of the ground motion recorded at different locations, generally at the ground surface. The modeling of SVGM and the understanding of its influence on the dam's response are necessary so as design codes start to incorporate its effects in their provisions. This study presents a measure and a profound investigation of SVGM at the dam-foundation rock interface of an arch dam. In-situ measurements are used to quantify SVGM and numerical simulations to deeper understand the particular physical phenomena that contribute to SVGM at the interface, i.e. local canyon topography and rock-structure interaction. The in-situ data comes from a seismological experimental campaign that has taken place on and around Saint Guérin arch dam over the period of six months. The campaign was held in the framework of the present thesis. The subset of events consists of low to moderate magnitude local and regional earthquakes. Thus, analysis is allowed in the linear range. Firstly, dynamic analysis of the arch dam is conducted; the frequencies of vibration, the damping coefficient and the crest amplification are estimated based on ambient noise and seismic records. Then, SVGM is quantified by means of phase and amplitude variability using coherency estimates and standard deviation of difference of Fourier amplitudes respectively. High variability is observed both in phase and amplitude at the dam-foundation rock interface. Once the estimators of variability are obtained from the data, parametric models are fitted to them. Focus is given on two observations : 1) the ground motions in the free field appear to be slightly less variable with respect to the motions at the dam-foundation rock interface and 2) at the dam-foundation rock interface, there is higher variability around the frequencies of vibration of the dam. These observations suggest that the presence of the structure along with the canyon topography increase SVGM. This increase though seems to be small given that the observations are satisfactory fitted by parametric models based on data coming from flat seismic arrays. Numerical simulations in the SPECFEM3D code, based on the spectral element method are used to deeper investigate the in-situ observations by decoupling the various causes of SVGM and evaluating the impact of each one. A parametric study using a simplified canyon topography attempts to identify the effect of local canyon topography on SVGM while a geometrically accurate model of the Saint Guérin arch dam and its canyon topography gives us a better insight on the dam-foundation rock interaction impact on SVGM. Although both features are found to increase SVGM, their impact remains secondary. The findings of the present research are expected to contribute in enhancing our understanding of SVGM at the dam-foundation rock interface and proposing variability models used in arch dams' design.

In respect of autogenous and drying shrinkage and the effects of relaxation creep during the hydration cycle, roller compacted concrete in dams has to date been universally assumed to behave in the same manner as conventional mass concrete, despite notional evidence to the contrary on prototype dam structures, particularly in respect of high-paste RCC. While the results of laboratory materials testing and associated early behaviour analyses for RCC have been published, no conclusive example exists in the public domain whereby predicted behaviour is confirmed through measured behaviour on a comprehensively-instrumented prototype dam structure. In his PhD thesis, Quentin Shaw presents evidence to indicate that the early behaviour of RCC, and particularly high quality, high-paste RCC in dams, is quite different to that of CVC. Referring to instrumentation records from Wolwedans and Knellpoort dams in South Africa, Çine Dam in Turkey, Wadi Dayqah Dam in Oman and Changuinola 1 Dam in Panama, indications of less than expected shrinkage and stress relaxation creep during the hydration cycle in the constituent RCC are documented. Taking the comprehensively-instrumented and monitored Wolwedans Dam, the actual materials behaviour of the constituent RCC is evaluated through the replication of the prototype behaviour on a finite element model. Through this analysis, it is clearly demonstrated that the level of shrinkage and stress relaxation creep that would be traditionally assumed in RCC simply did not occur. In fact, the analyses suggested that no shrinkage, or creep was apparent. The reasons for the different behaviour of high-paste RCC compared to CVC are subsequently explored. With Wadi Dayqah Dam as the only example evaluated where some drying shrinkage and/or stress relaxation creep was obviously apparent, the evident susceptibility of this lean RCC mix, with a high w/c ratio, a high content of non-cementitious fines, natural gravel aggregates, a high aggregate water absorption and placement in a very dry environment, is noted. However, it is considered to be the combination of a strong aggregate skeletal structure developed through roller compaction and a low w/c ratio that results in a particularly resilience in high-paste RCC to early shrinkage and creep. It is also recognised that temperature and gravity effects in an arch dam structure will tend to limit, or even eliminate containment stresses in the critical load-carrying upper section and that this will reduce the risk and impact of stress relaxation creep. Consequently, a new understanding of the early behaviour of RCC in large dams is presented, suggesting that a high quality RCC mix in an arch dam can be designed for a cumulative shrinkage and stress relaxation creep under the hydration cycle of approximately 20 microstrain, compared with a more traditionally accepted value of between 125 and 200 microstrain. The implications of these findings on the design of large RCC dams are demonstrated to be significant, particularly in respect of RCC arch dams. In addition, suggestions are made for the requirements in respect of RCC mix design for negligible shrinkage and creep, while an approach to combine the use of field measurement with structural modelling to predict and demonstrate actual RCC behaviour is briefly discussed. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Civil Engineering / unrestricted

Many dams existing today were constructed around fifty years ago. Condition monitoring is essential for maintaining high safety and determining the current level of safety and stability for these dams. There is a need for new monitoring techniques and finite element coupled monitoring could be one of these techniques. A concrete arch dam located in Sweden is modelled and calibrated with respect to concrete temperature measurements. The temperature distribution is then defined as a prescribed strain in a structural mechanical model in which a parametric study is performed. The results from the parametric study are compared to measurements of the crest deformation and a combination of parameters is found giving the lowest difference between measurements and model results for the mid-section. The results show that the finite element model can be used to predict the behavior of the dam with acceptable deviation. The parametric study indicates that the reference temperature of the concrete has little effect on the amplitude of the deformation and that the governing factor is the coefficient of thermal expansion. / Många av de dammar som finns idag byggdes för omkring femtio år sedan. Tillståndsövervakning är avgörande för att kunna bestämma nivån av säkerhet och stabilitet för dessa dammar. Det finns ett behov av ny övervakningsteknik och finita element-kopplad övervakning kan vara en av dessa tekniker. En betongvalvdamm modelleras och kalibreras med avseende på uppmätt betongtemperatur. Den beräknade temperaturfördelningen definieras sedan som en föreskriven töjning en strukturmekanisk modell i vilken en parametrisk studie utförs. Resultaten från parameterstudien jämförs med mätningar av kröndeformation och en kombination av parametrar identifieras som ger lägsta skillnad mellan mätningar och modellresultat för mittsektionen. Resultaten visar att modellen kan användas för att förutsäga dammens beteende med acceptabel avvikelse. Parameterstudien indikerar att referenstemperaturen för betongen har liten inverkan på amplituden för deformationen och att den styrande faktorn är längdutvidgningskoefficienten.