Construction delay of a penstock

Abstract

Uncertainties are not always quantifiable and particularly those that result from a poor management. This is the case of the construction of a penstock of a hydroelectric project. The penstock is an assembly of imbricated cylindrical blocks. The steel blocks deformed during transportation and storage. Plastic deformations and buckling are undesired effects or the blocks have to be replaced. A back analysis was made considering many different transport and storage cases. The case where the blocks were laid on a rigid ground without prevention or protection is examined with an analytic model. This is followed by an analysis of the state of stresses and a validation of the model.