After successful completion of the course, students are able to apply the principles developed in the ”Dam Lecture” to special circumstances, such as: mass concrete properties, inhomogeneous foundation zones and specifically to extend the influence of seismic action on the structural behavior of dams.

In this lecture, the basic behavior of dams in interaction with the influence of the foundation is discussed in detail. Efficient preliminary design and calculation procedures including detection of weakness zones in the foundation (rock or soil condition) and the dam (block- and construction joints), non-linear material behavior, temperature effects, dynamic loading, etc. are presented and tested based on current cases. The special properties of mass concrete (heat development, grain size-related material strengths, etc.) and their effects on the design and construction are treated.

The lecture takes place via overhead projectors with detailed explanations on the blackboard. Interactive exchange between students and the lecturer in the form of questions and discussions are postulated.

The Examination takes the form of a 15-minute lecture on selected topics of the course and a in-depth discussion of the participants.