DON’T JUDGE THE BOO BY IT’S COVER; EXPERIENCES WITH POTENTIAL FAILURES MODES ANALYSIS

摘要

In the summer of 2001, the Colorado Dam Safety Branch (DSB) personnel conducted a rnpilot program using the Potential ailure Modes Analysis (PFMA) process on selected dams. rnUnder the guidance of Larry Von Thun, DSB personnel went through the process of evaluating rnselected dams with the intent to determine the required workload required for an analysis, and rnto provide expertise toward development of a standardized program for more efficient rnevaluations. A total of eight dams were evaluated during the course of the pilot program.The result of this effort was to gain an understanding of the PFMA process itself, and to rnbetter understand the concepts of how various failure modes can affect a dam. In the course of rnthe program, the several dam owners came to better understand the Colorado dam safety rnprogram, and more importantly, to better understand their dams, and how dam safety rnpersonnel may have reason to express safety concerns. An additional feature of the process rnwas to gain a better perspective to the operation of the dam safety program, and to identify rnstrengths and weaknesses in the inspection program. rnWith the experience from the pilot program, and the DSB is moving forward to develop a rnstandardized program with the goal of streamlining the process toward performing PFMA rnstudies on a routine basis. With approximately 2000 dams in the inventory, of which rnapproximately 700 are significant hazard structures, it is hoped that a more standardized rnapproach will facilitate an ongoing review. rnTo further aid the effort toward PFMA evaluations, the DSB, in conjunction with the rnUSBR, is developing a ailure Assessment Index (FAI) to profile the dam inventory and rnhighlight dams that pose the greater risk of failure. Dams posing a greater risk based upon the rnAI will he selected for closer review and evaluation, and any necessary resources to effect rnany repairs and modifications that may be warranted.