To Dam or Not to Dam: Exploring the Failure Risk of the Three Gorges Dam

Interesting analysis.

> The Chinese researchers have noted that these modelled safety ratios are best case scenarios, because it does not take into account the true extent of the geological and mechanical properties of the rock foundation, and more importantly, the changes brought about by the massive weight held up by the Three Gorges Reservoir.

> In short, this means that the Three Gorges dam could very well be in the uncomfortable space between the first and second inflection points on the previously calculated displacement curves, so the risk of sliding failure is above zero.