Page - 1126 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering

COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE DES GRANDS BARRAGES ------- VINGT-SIXIÈME CONGRÈS DES GRANDS BARRAGES Autriche, juillet 2018 ------- ASPECTS CONCERNING AGEING OF EMBANKMENT DAMS Ronald HASELSTEINER Department Manager Hydraulic Engineering, BJOERNSEN CONSULTING ENGINEERS GERMANY 1. INTRODUCTION The process ageing defines the timely change of the behaviour of embankment dams. These changes are caused by biogenic, geogenic, anthropological or climate factors. The ageing processes may occur periodically, temporarily, steadily, or even suddenly. These ageing processes can cause harm and can initiate failure processes and can lead to a total failure. Different definitions of ageing are available, and were developed within the different engineering faculties. Generally, ageing depicts a deterioration process and, frequently, is treated hand in hand with the long-term behaviour of dam structures. Particularly, embankment dams, which were designed without safety margin or show design deficits, are sensitive to long-term deterioration effects. Ageing can affect all materials and all parts of embankment dams. Research and science frequently focus on single processes such as the behaviour of dispersive clays, but those single processes are rarely put into an overall context such as life cycle considerations. Life cycle considerations or management may support risk management approaches as well as may shed light on the obligations of the owner during the different operation periods and life spans of dams (Fig. 1). 1126