Page - 1 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering

COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE DES GRANDS BARRAGES ------- VINGT-SIXIÈME CONGRÈS DES GRANDS BARRAGES Autriche, juillet 2018 ------- CAPITALIZATION OF BENCHMARK WORKSHOPS RESULTS SINCE BERGAMO 1991 Guido MAZZA’ Chairman of ICOLD Committee A “Computational Aspects of Analysis and Design of Dams, RICERCA SUL SISTEMA ENERGETICO RSE S.P.A. ITALY EXTENDED ABSTRACT Policies on energy and water resources all around the world poses an increasing demand of clean energy and sustainable water resources. These needs require both refurbishment programs of many old dams in those countries where dam construction dates back at the beginning of the industrialization process, such as Europe and USA, and the construction of new infrastructures where the need of water resources and renewable energy is more pressing. ICOLD in 1988 decided to appoint the Committee Computational Aspects of Analysis and Design of Dams with the aim to contribute to the diffusion of computer software in the field of dam engineering and to fill the gap existing between the specialists of mathematical modelling and dam designers, authorities, and managers. As a matter of fact, numerical modelling represents nowadays a key tool for dam engineers to perform efficiently the design making process, the construction stage as well as the whole operational dam life until the possible decommissioning phase. The activities of the Committee have contributed to make fully accepted the numerical models in the engineering practice. Today and future activities of the Committee are oriented towards:  creating a stronger link between the observed dam behavior and the modelling process with the aim to contribute to the preservation and maintenance of existing dams; 1