Heightening of an old masonry gravity dam

This paper illustrates the principal aspects of the study for the heightening intervention of a masonry gravity dam built in 1930. So far the dam has been utilized as flood control reservoir with normally empty basin; now a functional modification is needed in order to employ the structure for both control floods and water supply. Heightening of the maximum water level is thus requested. The suggested solution consists of a concrete wall close to the upstream face. The new structure becomes complex [1] and the study of the coupling between the wall and the dam requires the adoption of the Finite Element Method, carrying out both mechanical and hydraulic models including portion of the foundation rock. © 2005 Civil-Comp Press