Author: ZHU Bo-fang (China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China)

Abstract: Methods for computing the expected life span of concrete dams are given and the influences of relevant factors are analyzed. It is pointed out that the life of solid concrete dam may be boundless due to the following reasons: firstly, the concrete in the interior of dam has enough strength over a long period of time, secondly, the thickness of the solid concrete dam is so big that the superficial damages due to carbonization, freezing and melting and water flow erosion can be repaired when the dam work normally. The life of buttress dam is limited, because the steel reinforcement may become rusty and the thickness of dams is thin. Methods to realize the endlessly long life of solid concrete dams are proposed in respect of design, construction and maintenance.

Key words: concrete dams, life span, design, construction, maintenance

Published in: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 43, No. 1, 2011

Article ID: 0559-9350 (2011) 01-0001-09