Foreword

Modeling the real behavior of high concrete dams, subject to operationaland seismic loadings and with realistic consideration of all the importantpractical factors and nonlinear features involved, is a truly grand chal-lenge. The significance of solving the problem, however, cannot begreater, as any potential failure of such dams under extreme loadings,including seismic hazards, may cause a major disaster, with devastatingeconomic and social consequences.

The Research Group of Earthquake Resistance on High Dams led byProfessor Zhang at Tsinghua University has been intensively under-taking internationally leading research work on the behavior modelingof high concrete dams subject to operating and seismic loadings overthe past three decades. The major results of their recent researchwork have now been selected and compiled into the current book,Seismic Safety Evaluation of Concrete Dams: A Nonlinear BehavioralApproach.

It is evident from the book that Professor Zhang’s group has devel-oped a comprehensive set of highly advanced numerical modelingtechniques to successfully tackle all the important aspects of the problem.This is indeed a remarkable achievement, in my opinion. From a numer-ical modeling point of view, many numerical developments aresignificant, original, cutting edge and internationally excellent. Themethodologies developed are applicable not only to high concretedams, but also to a much wider range of applications in engineeringexhibiting discrete/discontinuous or progressive damage and fracturephenomena.

More importantly, many techniques developed have not only beenapplied to over 20 existing (high) concrete dams in China to assesstheir structural integrity and safety, but also been employed in thedesign of several new high dams. The fact that over 90% of the existinghigh concrete dams in the world are in China and more are currentlyunder construction has, without doubt, placed Professor Zhang’s groupas the foremost research team in the world on high concrete dammodeling.

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I am privileged to write this foreword to the book, and also sincerelyhope that the scientific cooperation between Tsinghua and SwanseaUniversities will be further enhanced in the future.

Professor D. R. J. Owen

College of Engineering, Swansea University, UK

Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal

Academy of Engineering, UK

Foreign Member of the National

Academy of Engineering, USA

Foreign Member of the Chinese

Academy of Sciences, China