Building inclinations can be measured through the use of ultrasonic hydrostatic levelers. These are used to measure long-term relative displacements of vertical parts of structures and utilize the principle of communicating vessels (similar to the classic water scales). The presented ultrasonic displacement measurement technique was developed by Ultrasystem in the 1990s and was applied to several objects in Poland. Long-term measurements enabled the development of a model of object behavior under the influence of various factors. Among these are the annual cycle of temperature changes, fluctuating water levels, turbine chamber emptying, etc. Such a model can facilitate the prediction of failure based on the appearance of changes deviating from typical behavior (e.g., a much stronger dependence of the inclination as a function of the water level). The results obtained with the help of ultrasonic sensors enable the observation of subtle deformations of the object, which is valuable when developing and calibrating new models of the object (e.g., by means of the finite element method).

Numerical modelling using Finite Element Method (FEM) is currently a standard procedure for engineering complex structures and determining structure–subsoil cooperation conditions. It is used for, among others, forecasting displacements, which are the calculation results most easily verified. Numerical modelling is also used to identify the impact on neighbouring structures and design a monitoring system and determine expected values, e.g., displacements. A numerical model enables one to optimally design the monitoring system for a facility under construction and the neighbouring structures through selecting a measurement technology, matching the scope of obtained results or choosing sensor and measurement point locations. The implemented monitoring may be based on various technologies, from thermal monitoring, laser scanning, fibre optic measurements, to classic surveying measurements. The walls must protect the soil from excessive displacement and protect the excavation against groundwater inflow. If the wall is not watertight, deepening the excavation may cause a sudden water inflow. Leak and erosion process thermal monitoring is a proven leak detection method. It is based on the tests utilizing heat and water transfer process relations, which are coupled processes. Another tool for verifying numerical models is the installation of DFOS (Distributed Fibre Optic Sensors) at the stage of executing structural elements (e.g., diaphragm walls, barrettes, foundation slab). It allows one to permanently monitor both temperature and displacements during element execution (concrete curing), and following facility construction and operation stages. The paper presents methods for designing selected monitoring elements of engineering objects, based on calculations using the Finite Element Method. The verification of numerical models, based on data obtained from DFOS, classic surveying measurements and thermal monitoring, is also presented.

The paper presents control periodic measurements of movements and survey of concrete dam on Dunajec River in Rożnów, Poland. Topographical survey was conducted using laser scanning technique. The goal of survey was data collection and creation of a geometrical model. Acquired cross- and horizontal sections were utilised to create a numerical model of object behaviour at various load depending of changing level of water in reservoir. Modelling was accomplished using finite elements technique. During the project an assessment was conducted to terrestrial laser scanning techniques for such type of research of large hydrotechnical objects such as gravitational water dams. Developed model can be used to define deformations and displacement prognosis.

This paper presents the application of conic programming methods to the limit analysis of plane rigid-plastic problems in structural and geotechnical engineering. The approach is based on the formulation of yield criteria as second-order cone constraints and on the dual optimization problem, which directly provides collapse mechanisms and limit loads. Two benchmark examples are investigated. The first concerns a deep beam under uniform top pressure, analyzed with linear and quadratic finite elements. The results confirm the ability of the method to reproduce realistic collapse mechanisms and demonstrate the effect of mesh refinement and element type on convergence. The second example addresses the ultimate bearing capacity of a strip footing on cohesive-frictional soil. The numerical implementation was carried out in MATLAB using CVX with MOSEK as the solver, which ensures practical applicability and efficient computations. Different soil models are considered, including Mohr–Coulomb and two Drucker–Prager variants, and the results are compared with the classical Terzaghi solution. Additional elastoplastic FEM simulations carried out in a commercial program are also presented. The comparison highlights the differences between rigid-plastic optimization and incremental elastoplastic analyses, showing that both conservative and liberal estimates of bearing capacity can be obtained. The study shows that conic programming is an efficient and flexible framework for limit analysis of plane rigid-plastic problems, providing engineers with complementary tools for assessing ultimate loads, while also ensuring good computational efficiency.

Comparison of temparature and displacements of a gravity section and a buttress section illustrated with the example of concrete dam in Rożnów

Obiekty hydrotechniczne pełnią istotną rolę w funkcjonowaniu społeczeństwa i gospodarki krajowej. Oprócz funkcji przeciwpowodziowych, pełnią funkcje retencyjne i rekreacyjne. Często umożliwiają także produkcję energii elektrycznej, tym cenniejszej, że ekologicznie „czystej”. Dbanie o prawidłowy stan techniczny obiektów hydrotechnicznych jest niezmiernie istotne z punktu widzenia bezpieczeństwa ludności oraz wielu innych aspektów techniczno-ekonomicznych. Należy również wspomnieć, że obowiązek wykonywania regularnych ocen stanu technicznego i przeglądów jest zapisany w polskim prawodawstwie. Stąd tak ważną kwestią jest kompleksowa analiza tego typu konstrukcji pod kątem naprężeń, odkształceń, zjawisk filtracyjnych oraz stateczności. Konieczne jest przy tym uwzględnienie obciążeń oraz współpracy obiektu z podłożem. W artykule zaprezentowano szerokie możliwości zastosowania analiz numerycznych w ocenie stanu technicznego konstrukcji hydrotechnicznych. W pracy skupiono się na nowoczesnych metodach pozyskiwania danych niezbędnych do generacji modeli obliczeniowych, kładąc szczególny nacisk na metody nieniszczące. W artykule omówiono metody geofizyczne oraz możliwość wykorzystania skaningu laserowego. Przedstawiono podstawowe założenia teoretyczne metody elementów skończonych (MES) oraz zaprezentowano sposoby jej implementacji w analizie konstrukcji hydrotechnicznych, zarówno ziemnych jak i betonowych. W pracy zamieszczono kilka wybranych przykładów modeli numerycznych 2D i 3D różnych typów obiektów. Poruszono zagadnienie wpływu warunków brzegowych i parametrów materiałowych na wyniki obliczeń. Zaprezentowano przykładowe wyniki oraz sposób ich interpretacji. Na podstawie wykonanych analiz oraz doświadczeń własnych autorów sformułowano wnioski końcowe