Structural Behavior of Dams
May 17-20, 2022 - 9:00 am MDT
Registration is limited to 12 seats
24 PDHs available
Bruce Brand’s “Structural Behavior of Dams” is a 4-day course on Dam Engineering. It is at the same time very theoretical and very practical. Theory is presented and then applied to real-world dam engineering situations.
Bruce originally developed the course for FERC engineers, but now is offering it to the dam engineering community. The target audience is experienced engineers, it would not be appropriate for novices. Classes are small; no more than 12 students.
Topics
- Beam Theory with an emphasis on geometric non-linearities - Safety Factor - Loads on Dams
- Beam Theory with an emphasis on geometric non-linearities
- Safety Factor
- Loads on Dams
Steady State Hydrodynamic Uplift Lateral Earth Debris Follower Forces Seismic Loads
Steady State Hydrodynamic
Uplift
Lateral Earth
Debris
Follower Forces
Seismic Loads
- Analysis Methods - FEA Background - Dynamics
- Analysis Methods
- FEA Background
- Dynamics
Classical Explicit Surge Tank Example Wave Radiating Boundaries
Classical
Explicit
Surge Tank Example
Wave Radiating Boundaries
- Fracture Mechanics - Rock Mechanics - Case Histories - Arch Dams - Gravity Arches - Slab and Buttress Topics
- Fracture Mechanics
- Rock Mechanics
- Case Histories
- Arch Dams
- Gravity Arches
- Slab and Buttress Topics
In addition to instruction, Bruce provides the following software:
2DSTAB Gravity Dam Analysis TGRIB Taintergate Analysis VF2D 2 Dim. Non-Linear FEA ARVAR 3 Dim. Non-linear FEA DAMGEN Gravity Dam Mesh Generator ARCHMKR Arch Dam Mesh Generator
2DSTAB Gravity Dam Analysis
TGRIB Taintergate Analysis
VF2D 2 Dim. Non-Linear FEA
ARVAR 3 Dim. Non-linear FEA
DAMGEN Gravity Dam Mesh Generator
ARCHMKR Arch Dam Mesh Generator
To Register visit USSD's Learning Center
What is at Risk: How to Assess Potential Dam Failure Impacts at a National Scale
May 19, 2022 - 10:00AM MDT
Online Webinar
2 PDHs Available
It is well known that a large fraction of the national inventory of dams represents aging infrastructure. As the frequency of extreme climate events increases, and the intensity, severity and duration of cycles of droughts and floods stresses existing reservoirs and dams, there is a need to take stock of both the conditions of the dams, their potential for failure and what would be at risk in that event.
Given the large number of US dams, and the prevalence of critical infrastructure elements (energy facilities, power stations, transportation, water and wastewater systems, navigation) downstream of the dams, a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic impacts is not a trivial task. However, many publicly available data sets now allow a certain degree of quantification of some of these impacts, and can provide an indication of the potential impacts on economically disadvantaged groups from an environmental justice perspective, as well as direct and indirect economic and supply chain impacts. This can facilitate at least an initial screening to prioritize the dams that should be of regional or national focus for risk identification and reduction.
This webinar will review some of the data sources and the factors that need to be brought together in such an analysis as well as some initial results.
Participants will receive exposure to data sets and methods, and learn the importance of impact analysis to prioritize dam failure risk analyses.
Learning Objectives
1. Data sets available for dam failure impact analyses
2. Methods for analyzing and linking these data in the context of impact analysis
3. Methods for linking dam condition assessments and climate information into potential failure risk
Register now via the USSD Learning Center
June 16, 2022 - 10:00AM MDT
Online Workshop
Explore the latest research and methods from the US Army Corps of Engineers on how to estimate consequences of flooding, with a focus on potential loss of life. Participants will gain an understanding of what causes loss of life during a flood event and how to estimate the potential loss of life for different flood scenarios.
1) identify the driving factors that lead to loss of life, or lack thereof during a flood event
2) describe the essential elements that must be considered when estimating potential loss of life from flooding
3) Identify common methods for assessing each of the essential elements that inform a life loss estimate
4) Identify the sources of uncertainty in life loss estimates and summarize how uncertainty is portrayed in the estimate.
Speaker
Jason Needham is the senior Consequence Specialist for the USACE Risk Management Center (RMC). He holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University, an M.S. degree in Engineering from the University of California at Davis, and is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of California. Jason specializes in risk analysis and consequence estimation, and he leads the USACE research and development efforts focused on understanding the potential loss of life from flooding.
He has been a practicing Hydraulic Engineering and flood-related consequence estimation for over 20 years. Five of those years were with David Ford Consulting in Sacramento, CA where he worked with industry standard hydrologic and hydraulic software programs and developed and installed flood warning systems for various groups. Six years were with the Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) in Davis, CA where he led development of HEC-FIA, including adding the ability to perform GIS-based calculations and estimate potential loss of life from flooding. He transferred to the RMC 10 years ago where he continues to be involved in guiding research, development and application of the consequence estimation tools in support of risk assessments. He also is a lead developer of the USACE Levee Screening Tool and vice chair for the USACE Levee Senior Oversight Group.
Investigation of the Feijão Tailings Dam Failure near Brumadinho, Brazil
July 21, 2022 - 10:00AM MDT
At approximately 12:28 pm local time on January 25, 2019, tailings dam B-1 at Vale S.A.’s Corrego do Feijão Iron Ore Mine, located 9 kilometers north-east of Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, suffered a sudden failure resulting in a catastrophic mudflow that travelled rapidly downstream resulting in significant damage and the loss of over 250 lives. This failure was unique in that there are high quality video images of the event that provide insight into the failure mechanism.
To determine what triggered the failure of this dam and why the failure occurred when it did, an Expert Panel carried out an investigation into the technical causes of the failure. The investigation included: (i) evaluating the nature and properties of the materials in the dam, (ii) assessing the dam construction and operation methods and their impact on the dam and tailings material properties, (iii) assessing the condition of the dam before and during the failure using analyses of available images, such as video, ground-based radar, LiDAR, satellite (InSAR and photographs), drone videos, and (iv) numerically modelling the conditions just prior to failure.
This presentation will provide a summary of the Expert Panel investigation carried out to determine the technical causes of the failure.
Speakers
Lucas de Melo, Senior Principal Geotechnical Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants, has over 25 years of experience in mining and dam-related projects, geotechnical design and field studies, hazardous materials remediation, and solid waste management facilities. His portfolio of clients includes public and private entities. Lucas was part of the four-member Expert Panel tasked to investigate the failure of the Feijão Tailings dam in Brazil in 2019. He currently serves as a Dams and Mining practice leader at Geosyntec’s Columbia, Maryland office, working on risk quantification, engineering evaluation, and design of rehabilitation projects and new facilities. In addition, Dr. de Melo is responsible for the geotechnical curriculum at the Johns Hopkins University (his alma mater), where he acts as a Lecturer.
Dr. Peter K. Robertson, Geotechnical Consultant, PK Robertson Inc., has more than 40 years of experience as an educator, researcher, consultant and practitioner specializing in the areas of in-situ testing and site investigation, earthquake design of geotechnical structures, and soil liquefaction. He is the co-author of the primary reference book on Cone Penetration Testing (CPT). Peter has also assisted in the development of several inexpensive CPT-based interpretation software programs and has presented a series of free webinars in an effort to enhance education and practice. Peter was the Chair of the Expert Panel to investigate the failure of the Feijao Tailing dam failure in Brazil in 2019. Peter continues to provide private consulting to a wide range of clients and currently resides in southern California.
April 17 - 21, 2023
Infrastructure Resiliency Through Risk Management
Join USSD and colleagues in beautiful Charleston, SC at the North Charleston Embassy Suites.
Call for Papers Opens May 12, 2022
Abstracts Due July 7, 2022
Dam and levee professionals are invited to submit abstracts addressing the conference theme and other technical topics.
Abstract acceptance or rejection notices will be sent on 9.1.2022. For those that are accepted, draft papers or expanded abstracts will be due 10.24.2022.
Abstract Submission Site: https://catalyst.omnipress.com/ussd_2023
Technical Program Chair: Ed Toms, AECOM
Technical Program Vice-Chair: Aimee Corn, Gannett Fleming
Conference Email: 2023conference@ussdams.org
United States Society on Dams 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy., K-2,145 • Westminster, CO 80021 - USA
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