Revision as of 10:27, 16 April 2024

Abstract

Robustness plays a relevant role in the capacity of a structure to sustain abnormal loads
or to deal with unexpected events with large effects, such as explosions and terroristic
attacks. Such situations on dams may have extremely large consequences. For buildings,
the design approach that best implements robustness concepts is represented by the so
called “Consequence Based Design”: even if nothing is known about the cause, selective
element removals and extreme load on the structure are modeled, and their effects are
determined with respect to progressive collapse and damage arrest.
In the paper we try to set-up a “Consequence Based Assessment” of a typical example of
a gravity dam built between the ‘30s and ‘40s of the last century in the northwestern
Italian Alps. A simplified model of the structure is adopted. Removal of parts of the dam
cross-section is assumed to occur: the effects of the extent of damage is discussed on the
bases of the tension generated within the body of the dam.
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