Criteria for evaluating the operational-capability life of aging concrete dams

This article discusses the aging mechanisms, both internal and external, for concrete dams and develops a simple mathematical relationship for determining the safe operational lifetime of the structure. The calculations made at the All-Russian Hydraulic Institute demonstrate the rationality of the basic positions of the approach. At present, refinements and simplifications are being introduced in the calculation method proposed and mathematical model created. These refinements will make possible wide use of the method.