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        <title>Frontiers in Built Environment | Dam Engineering and Design section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/built-environment/sections/dam-engineering-and-design</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Dam Engineering and Design section in the Frontiers in Built Environment journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-13T14:28:56.359+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1793867</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1793867</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Geosynthetics in dams and water reservoirs under slope instability conditions: state of the art and challenges in geotechnical engineering]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>María Jaya-Montalvo</author><author>Edgar Berrezueta</author><author>Fernando Morante-Carballo</author><author>Paúl Carrión-Mero</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Geosynthetics are polymer-based materials widely applied in dams and water reservoirs to enhance impermeability, structural stability, and overall sustainability. Studies have focused on the use of geosynthetics for erosion control, seepage/stabilisation, and geoenvironmental linings. However, a gap remains in the systematic review linking the performance of geosynthetic barriers to slope stability assessment under specific dam failure scenarios, such as rapid water-level drop, transient seepage, liquefaction, and seismic loading. This study aims to analyze the scientific literature on applications of geosynthetic systems and their performance in dams or natural/artificial water reservoirs documented in Scopus and Web of Science using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method and bibliometric analysis. Variables including geosynthetic type, configuration, selection criteria, application context, and mechanical performance under seepage and slope stability conditions were evaluated. The study identified that more than 30% of cases employ single-layer geomembranes (High-Density Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride) due to their high impermeability, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness in regions where impermeable clay is unavailable. Multicomponent configurations tend to present high sustainability categories, especially when vegetated elements (Vetiveria zizanioides) or biodegradable materials are included. The applied numerical models focus on the analysis of leaks and seals with Geosynthetic Clay Liner, which has received sustained interest to date. Future research directions focus on pilot projects for modular renovation, continuous monitoring using remote sensing techniques, medium-term (5–10 years) testing of geosynthetic degradation, and the development of hybrid materials (recycled polymers with natural fibres). Compared with conventional solutions, geosynthetic systems represent a new generation of climate-adaptive infrastructure, offering environmental, economic, and social benefits.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1751853</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1751853</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Analysis of discharge rates in rectangular slit, ogee, and sharp-crested weirs]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hossein Sohrabzadeh Anzani</author><author>Ali Mahdian Khalili</author><author>Sameh Ahmed Kantoush</author><author>Mehdi Hamidi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Climate change has made flash floods increasingly common. It's crucial to have confidence in the structural integrity of dams during a flash flood. According to the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), approximately one-third of dam failures are attributed to inadequate spillway capacity. The current study aims to compare the discharge of slit weirs with that of ogee spillways and sharp-crested weirs. Various experiments were conducted using rectangular slit weirs with different opening ratios (b/B = 2/24, 3/24, 4/24, 5/24, 6/24, 7/24, 8/24, and 10/24). The results indicate that ogee spillways have an average discharge capacity of 13–68 times greater than that of the slit weirs, while sharp-crested weirs have a discharge capacity of 1.39–7.3 times that of the slit weirs. The ratio of ogee spillway discharge to the slit weir (r) and sharp-crested weir discharge to the slit weir (r') increases with the rise of h/P. Moreover, the highest average values of r and r' are observed at b/B = 2/24, measuring 65.46 and 7.3, respectively. Conversely, the lowest values, 11.53 and 1.22, are associated with b/B = 10/24. Notably, the maximum values of r and r', 71.2 and 7.61, respectively, also occur at b/B = 2/24.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1737466</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1737466</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Analytical and direct FE methods for free-field foundation modeling in 3D analysis of concrete dams]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Roghayeh Abbasiverki</author><author>Reza Karami Mohammadi</author><author>M. Amin Hariri-Ardebili</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Three-dimensional (3D) modeling is essential for reliable seismic assessment of concrete dams, as it captures canyon topography, monolith interactions, and joint nonlinearity that cannot be represented in two-dimensional (2D) analyses. This study systematically evaluates the seismic performance of a benchmark concrete gravity dam through comparative 3D and 2D finite element (FE) analyses, investigating two free-field foundation modeling approaches: (i) a direct FE method that explicitly accounts for canyon geometry, and (ii) an analytical approach employing simplified flat foundation assumptions. Using the domain reduction method, the nonlinear seismic analysis of the Pine Flat Dam implements effective earthquake forces as seismic input at the absorbing boundaries. The results reveal that while 2D analyses show methodological agreement (both relying on one-dimensional free-field assumptions), they fundamentally cannot reproduce 3D effects such as stress amplification from canyon geometry and monolith interactions. The direct FE method proves superior in predicting joint sliding and opening responses, as well as canyon amplification effects, whereas simplified approaches yield non-conservative estimates due to its failure to account for canyon-induced wave scattering. This study concludes that 2D modeling may be sufficient for preliminary analyses, but final design verification requires 3D simulation with direct FE free-field representation, particularly for dams located in irregular topographies.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1731114</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1731114</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Interpretable machine learning for bridge-pier scour prediction and flood resilience]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Adil Khan</author><author>Dalya Ismael</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Bridge-pier scour is a leading cause of flood-induced bridge failure, yet practice still lacks transparent, physics-informed tools that link data-driven prediction with design guidance. This study develops an interpretable, physics-aware machine-learning framework to predict equilibrium scour depth and translate those predictions into actionable strategies for flood-resilient infrastructure. Using the 2014 U.S. Geological Survey Pier-Scour Database (569 laboratory cases), five models: Gradient Boosting, AdaBoost (Tree), XGBoost, Gaussian Process (RBF kernel), and Kernel Ridge (polynomial), were trained and evaluated with K-fold cross-validation. Model performance was evaluated using R2, RMSE, and MAE. Gradient Boosting performed best, achieving training and testing R2 of 0.99 and 0.96, a near-ideal parity fit, and consistent accuracy across folds. Interpretability is provided by SHAP, whose attributions align with hydraulics; the pier width normal to flow accounts for 70.6% of the total importance in predicting scour depth. Predicted scour is mapped to four scenario envelopes that capture rare, peak, and sustained hydraulic extremes and yield clear design checks for flood resilience. A physics-based imputation scheme for sediment critical velocity and duration of flow is integrated in the framework so that missing inputs are handled in a hydraulically consistent way. The developed models are deployed in an interactive web app, allowing practitioners to obtain code-free scour predictions across all learners. Applied to the Knik River bridge and benchmarked against related work, the framework improves accuracy and provides actionable margins for design verification, maintenance prioritization, retrofit planning, emergency response, and transparent risk communication.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1731955</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2026.1731955</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Performance assessment and design improvements for an urban coastal detention basin under intensifying rainfall extremes]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-01-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Imiya Mudiyanselage Chathuranika</author><author>Agyare Asante</author><author>Faeghe Borhani</author><author>Xixi Wang</author><author>Mujde Erten-Unal</author><author>Dalya Ismael</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Coastal urban areas are increasingly exposed to flooding driven by more frequent and intense rainfall events, rising sea levels, and expanding impervious surfaces. Norfolk, Virginia, a low-lying coastal city with aging stormwater infrastructure, faces heightened vulnerability to these hydrologic pressures. This study evaluates the hydraulic performance of an existing urban detention basin within the Edgewater–Larchmont catchment under 10-, 50-, and 100-year, 2-h design storms using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Simulations were conducted for both pre- and post-development conditions to assess changes in peak discharge, storage capacity, and water level dynamics. Results show that urbanization, which increased impervious area from 5% to 70%, substantially intensified runoff generation. Peak discharges increased from 1.44 m3/s under pre-development 10-year conditions to 2.81 m3/s and 3.51 m3/s under post-development 50-year and 100-year storms, respectively, while total runoff volumes approximately doubled. Although total basin storage capacity was not exceeded, the detention basin became hydraulically limited during extreme storms as effective storage below the outlet elevation was rapidly exhausted, leading to elevated peak outflows. Outlet elevation adjustments that increased effective detention storage improved flow attenuation and reduced post-development peak discharges toward pre-development levels. This highlights the value of integrating hydrologic modeling with adaptive infrastructure design to enhance flood resilience and support evidence-based, climate-adaptive stormwater planning.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1502168</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1502168</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Particle image velocimetry analysis of the protective layer in embankment dams]]></title>
        <pubdate>2025-01-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Nisal Deelaka Halaba Arachchige Senarathna</author><author>Théo Dezert</author><author>Fjóla Guðrún Sigtryggsdóttir</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The growing requirement imposed by dam safety regulations and guidelines necessitates the improvement and rehabilitation of rockfill embankment dams. These hydraulic structures are of great importance, and they can be subjected to overtopping flows which can significantly compromise the structural integrity. One of the defense mechanisms utilized is the placement of riprap on the downstream shoulder of the dam. This article explores eight experimental tests comprising of four different dam model configurations and investigates the possibility of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques to explore the characteristics of the protective riprap layer, such as breach initiation, failure mechanism, and velocity pattern. The models varied from full to half dam profiles, constituted of placed or dumped riprap, with or without downstream toe support, and with or without downstream shell material. Leveraging the PIV technique, the study provides insight into the area of breach initiation within riprap protection on the downstream shoulder of rockfill embankment dams and thus breach initiation of protected rockfill dams. The study brings to light that for models with placed riprap, the initiation occurs simultaneously at the top and the bottom of the protective layer confirming the assertions made in prior studies regarding a failure mechanism marked by a sliding process. The study further confirms that for structures with toe support, the breach initiation occurs at the top of the protective layer. This analysis also revealed that in the case of dumped riprap, the precise position of the breach initiation was indeterminate. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that there is a significant drop in the velocity readings at the downstream section of the riprap layer when supported by a toe, underscoring the significance of having toe support. Another revelation from this analysis was the contrasting velocity readings with substantially higher readings for placed riprap as compared to dumped riprap reaffirming the fact that placed riprap can endure higher discharges as compared to dumped riprap. Furthermore, this investigation also detected that a graph of the velocity pattern depicting the placed riprap exhibited a higher singular peak while such a graph depicting the dumped riprap exhibited a bimodal characteristic.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1452415</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1452415</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) in structural analysis of concrete dams]]></title>
        <pubdate>2024-09-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jerzy W. Salamon</author><author>M. Amin Hariri-Ardebili</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Over the past three decades, advancements in computational power and numerical methods have significantly enhanced the role of structural analyses in the design and safety assessment of dams. Simulating concrete dam behavior, particularly in interactions with reservoir water and rock foundations, poses formidable computational challenges. Additionally, the need to define uncertainties related to material parameters, loading conditions, and modeling strategy adds complexity to the modeling process, therefore, quantifying sources of uncertainty is crucial for maintaining credibility and confidence in analysis results. This paper provides a synthesis and an overview of existing research and presents a generic framework for evaluating the credibility of advanced structural analysis methods for concrete dams, with a focus on their limitations and associated uncertainties. The methodology includes a comprehensive process for structural analysis, verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification, aiming to facilitate condition assessments of concrete dams.]]></description>
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