Fontana Current Status

• Since 1976, the TVA monitors the dam, taking weekly readings on the slot to make sure that everything stays under control. The dam is still "growing". The top center of the dam has moved 4.5 in. upstream.

• A third cause of cracking in the dam has been uncovered. During construction, cooling pipes were run through the dam to lower the temperature during the formation of the concrete. These pipes cooled the dam too much. It had to warm back up on the inside to reach an equilibrium with the outside, which was heating up due to the sun.

• Fontana Dam is now a major tourist destination with the historic Fontana Village as its main attraction.

courtesy of Scott Waycaster, Historic Fontana Village

references for this case history:
Abraham and Sloan
Newell and Wagner (2)
Chappell and Ingraffea