STRUCTURAL MITIGATION MEASURES

Structural mitigation structures are an integral part of countermeasures against floods and debris flows and act as water and sediment controlling components. Within the last centuries different types were developed, originating mainly on empirical approaches. These structures have to fulfil different functions within a protection concept and to withstand high impact forces. The historical development of structural mitigation measures is summarized and an overview of designs applied nowadays in torrential catchments is mentioned. The effectiveness of function types is shown by an Austrian sample and impact forces are listed. Considerations about failure mechanisms lead to suggestions strengthening the structures.