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Geological Factors in Engineering

Geological Factors in Engineering is the place for conversation and discussion about how geology shapes engineering decisions and affects engineered structures. Here, you'll find everything from discussions of geology-related engineering disasters to bold predictions about future events. Geological Factors in Engineering will also cover topics such as plate tectonics, underground waste storage, and urban planning. The blog's owner, Shawn, holds an A.S. from Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) with a concentration in science and engineering, and a B.S. from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany with a major in geology. A GlobalSpec employee for over 8 years, Shawn is now pursuing graduate-level studies at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) at SUNY Albany.

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Remembering the Vaiont Dam Disaster

Posted March 06, 2008 9:52 AM by Shawn
Pathfinder Tags: dam slope failure

The Vaiont Dam was built in 1961 in northeastern Italy. Two years later, a massive rock slide produced a 200-ft wall of water that spilled over the top of the dam and drowned over 2,000 people. The Vaiont Dam Disaster was not due to a poor foundation or other structural flaw. The problem was that geologists and engineers underestimated the probability of a slope failure.

Two years after the Vaiont Dam was built, its reservoir was nearing capacity and raised the surrounding water table. This change, when coupled with heavy rainfall, contributed to increased pressure between consolidated sediments. Tragically, a slope failure occurred, sending millions of cubic meters of land mass into the Vaiont Dam's reservoir. The resulting wave spilled over the top of the Vaiont Dam. Although the 860-ft high structure survived, the surrounding villages were swept away.

The ecological impact of placing a dam in an ocean-bound river is significant, of course, but there are other geologic considerations that are just as important when building such a structure. The geology of the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas, Nevada was studied extensively before construction began. The drilling of bedrock and an investigation of the stability of neighboring sediments was of key interest. The builders needed a solid foundation that would stand the test of time before the river evolved and eroded a spillway underneath the dam, which may still happen some several hundred years from now.

Tragically, the builders of the Vaiont Dam believed that a catastrophic failure of the valley side was unlikely. Understanding the importance of building any structure on a solid foundation and understanding its impact on the local environment has resulted in many guidelines and regulations. Today, these guidelines seem over taxing to some people, yet we still watch houses on the U.S. West Coast fall into the Pacific Ocean as million-dollar mansions suffer the same fate as the mountainside upstream from the Vaiont Dam.

Reference:

http://www.geocities.com/geogsoc2000/Vaiont1.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/vajont-dam?cat=travel


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Power-User

Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 210
#1

Re: Remembering the Vaiont Dam Disaster

04/01/2008 11:39 AM

Yeah... I know what you mean. It's not an easy scenario been around one of those huge Dam with mountains and lakes in top of that. A lot of times we see how many communities are let being forced to build their "Housing" nearby these conditions because they can't afford to live anywhere else having to conform with are the available living space for their budgets. life is to fragile specially when in poor budgeting circumstances, I know...

I wish to see the goverment and the UN or whoever in that power to do make out a survey of those populations and communities around the planet living day by day under such poor living risky scenarios dealing and playing an accident waiting to happen. It's a shame.

Allset folks watch out and thanks a lot for the good feedback here about such issues. Have a nice one now. GOD BLESS..!

Respectfuly,

MC

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