Multimodel-Based Diagnosis of Hydraulic Dams

Abstract

A dam diagnosis method based on a multimodel approach is proposed, and structural, functional, behavioral, and perception models are defined. The modeling process treats a dam as a connected network of elements and defines models for each component. The diagnosis algorithms compare actual and expected behaviors from visual and instrumental measurements. The method is generic and can be applied to different types of dam. An application was carried out on a real case study composed of a homogeneous dam affected by deterioration phenomena due to poor design and building conditions. The different models implemented and algorithms developed, coupled with the modeling approach, allow for the early detection and explanation of the deterioration of dam behavior.