Engineering Analysis

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A two-dimensional hydraulic model. (Image Source: USGS, 2021)

Types of Analyses

Engineers use many methods to analyze existing or proposed dams. This includes hand calculations, empirical methods, and computational methods or software. The complexity and data/resource requirements of these various analytic procedures varies greatly depending on the application and desired output. The following is a list of engineering analyses that are commonly used in design of new dams or the assessment of existing dams:

• Hydraulic Analysis
• Hydrologic Analysis
• Seepage Analysis
• Slope Stability Analysis
• Structural Analysis
• Seismic Analysis
• Risk Analysis
• Consequence Analysis

Modeling Communication

A critical aspect of any engineering analysis is communication. There are a variety of approaches and methodologies for most types of analysis, and it is important to owners, consultants, and regulators that clear communication is integrated in the process. Guidance and recommendations regarding both pre- and post-modeling communication are provided on this page: Modeling Communication.

Citations:

Revision ID: 8034
Revision Date: 08/27/2024