Can Engineers Relocate Hoover Dam?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of relocating Hoover Dam, specifically whether it can be moved in one piece several miles, assuming funding is not a constraint. The conversation touches on engineering limits, structural integrity, and practical considerations involved in such a massive undertaking.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the possibility of moving Hoover Dam in one piece, citing its estimated weight of ~10^13 kg and the challenges of lifting it without it breaking apart.
  • Another participant suggests that breaking the dam into pieces for relocation might be feasible, but moving it whole presents significant engineering challenges.
  • A different viewpoint proposes that constructing a new dam would be more practical, while keeping the existing dam for other purposes, such as sediment management.
  • There is a humorous suggestion about the necessity of emptying the water before any relocation attempt.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the feasibility of moving Hoover Dam in one piece, with differing opinions on the practicality of such an endeavor and alternative approaches being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the structural integrity of the dam during a hypothetical relocation and the implications of its weight on the feasibility of moving it whole.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in engineering challenges, large-scale construction projects, or the practicalities of relocating massive structures may find this discussion relevant.

Newai
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Assuming that funding is not an issue, is it within the limits of engineering to move Hoover Dam, including the Penstock Towers, in one piece a distance of several miles?
 
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I would say no. Presumably you mean pick it up and move it in one piece. I can see how it would be possible to break it into pieces and move it piece by piece over a period of time, but I don't see how you could pick it up and move it whole. I calculate that it weighs ~10^13 kg. How would you lift it? And even if you could lift it, it would probably break into pieces under its own weight anyway.
 
Okay. Thanks for the input!
 
Uh, given that you would want to tie it into the canyon floor and walls, it would make more sense to build a new dam and keep the old one as a silt catcher...

ps: I take it you'd empty the water before moving it ??
 

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