EurCOLD bulletins on penstocks, pressure tunnels and shafts: Selected overview

Abstract The upcoming EurCOLD bulletins on penstocks, pressure tunnels and shafts offer a comprehensive guide, consolidating decades of best practices, innovations and lessons learnt of past incidents for engineers. They provide an overview of power waterway types and components, critically evaluating existing guidelines and standards to offer state‐of‐the‐art engineering solutions for new hydropower projects and safety evaluations of aging plants. The bulletins cover key linear structures, including open‐air and buried penstocks, as well as unlined and lined (concrete or steel) pressure tunnels and shafts. They also provide guidance on applying numerical methods, such as the finite element method, to complex special components like manholes and bifurcations. Emphasis is placed on layout and lining concept selection, with proposed harmonised design criteria and load combinations. Possible frameworks for stochastic approaches are also explored. Crucial aspects like rock mass stability, load‐sharing, and hydraulic jacking risks are additionally covered. The bulletins also underscore the importance of inspection and monitoring using modern and advanced methods to ensure the safety and extend the life of both new and existing structures. Ultimately, these bulletins aim to standardise safety concepts and provide technical guidelines, serving as a reference for optimising high‐pressure water conveyance systems and enhancing project safety.