Determination of an empirical model for calculating the strain of a dam in terms of hydrostatic thrust

Abstract

The deformational control of structures has its greatest exponent in the control of large dams, which depending on structural typology, can be subjected to movement generally based on the pressure that it suffers. The designer usually calculates the theoretical displacements that the dam must suffer depending on the ydrostatic pressure, function of the thrust bearing, but it is also true that this calculation is theoretical and it is not usually adjusted to the real movements, due to the uncertainties that arise in the construction of any dam and make the original project have more or less significant changes in the final construction. In favour of the builder, it must be said that the actual displacements are usually lower than the theoretical ones. The present research focuses on the determination of an empirical model that allows calculating the deformation based on practical observations of a direct pendulum over 14 years, which determines the isplacement and the pressure experienced by the dam represented by the height of water contained, by means of a polynomial adjustment. This empirical model is tested and then validated with observations over the ollowing year and, although it is only valid for the dam where the trial (La Cohilla Dam) is made, the ethodology is applicable to any other structure.