Verhalten VRL - Load bearing capacity and deformation behaviour of penstock-manifolds

Steel manifolds are the connection between penstock and the single pipes in front of the individual turbines of hydroelectric power plants. These manifolds were designed recently based on 1D-beam models for the global analyses and local 3D-models for the individual branches. Within the project the realistic load bearing capacity and deformation behaviour of steel manifolds is studied in detail based on full 3D-models. The results are compared with the old design rules for individual existing civil works. In addition, plastic bearing capacities are studied, mainly for unscheduled settlements of the manifold.