This course provides guidance for performance-based design and evaluation of concrete hydraulic structures (CHS).  It introduces procedures that show how to design or evaluate a hydraulic structure to have a predictable performance for specified levels of seismic hazard.  Traditional design and evaluation procedures may still be used for feasibility and screening purposes. However, for critical facilities, they should be followed by procedures of this course to prevent sudden collapse even though the structure may suffer severe damage, to limit damage to a repairable level, or to maintain functionality immediately after the earthquake.

This course covers requirements for the seismic design and evaluation of plain and reinforced concrete hydraulic structures.  The types of concrete hydraulic structures addressed in this course include dams, U- and W-frame locks, gravity walls, and intake/outlet towers.  The course is also applicable to spillways, outlet works, hydroelectric power plants and pumping plants.  The structures may be founded on rock, soil, or pile foundations and may or may not have backfill soil.

·         The student will have knowledge of design criteria for operating basis earthquake (OBE) and the maximum design earthquake (MDE).  The course will include information on performance levels (serviceability, damage control and collapse prevention), performance goals (ductile behavior, limited-ductile behavior and brittle behavior), design requirements (strength design, serviceability design and loading combinations) and performance evaluation (plain concrete structures and reinforced concrete structures).

·         The student will have knowledge of estimating earthquake ground motion demands including the following areas – specification of earthquake ground motions, multi-directional effects and earthquake demands on inelastic systems.

·         The student will have knowledge of methods of seismic analysis and structural modeling.  Methods of analysis discussed include progressive, seismic coefficient, equivalent lateral force, response spectrum-modal analysis procedure, time history-modal analysis procedure and nonlinear time history-direct integration procedure.

·         The student will have knowledge of using analysis procedures and the evaluation of test results.  Specific areas covered are – seismic design and evaluation using DCR Approach, linear static procedure and linear dynamic procedure, nonlinear static procedure, and nonlinear dynamic procedure.

·         The student will have knowledge of the methods used to evaluate the seismic stability of structures.  The course will look at rigid structures vs. flexible structures as well as sliding stability and rotational stability.