A new design concept for arch dams taking into account seepage forces

Gell, K.; Wittke, Walter

doi:10.1007/bf01039995

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…In the dam engineering field, several authors in the 1980s presented different 3D finite element (FE) models which allowed coupled analysis of the hydromechanical behavior of rock mass foundations, based on the first fully coupled hydromechanical method, in 2D [10]. These 3D FE models were mainly used in research activities in order to assess the influence of the grout curtain s dip angle on the stresses and deformations of a large arch dam [11], to highlight the relevance of taking into account seepage forces at the rock mass foundation discontinuities in the interaction between the dam and the foundation and in stability analysis of arch dams [12][13][14] and for the analysis of the hydromechanical behavior of concrete dams [15]. The fully coupled FE 3D model presented by [16] resorted to the poroelasticity theory to simulate the deformability of the rock matrix and seepage through a porous medium and simulated seepage through the foundation discontinuities using the cubic law in the laminar regime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sliding Stability Assessment of Concrete Dams Using a 3D Discontinuum Hydromechanical Model Following a Discrete Crack Approach

et al. 2022

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Evaluation of the sliding stability of concrete dams requires the use of numerical tools not only able to simulate the coupled hydromechanical behavior but also able to adequately represent the foundation discontinuities and the specific features of dam foundations. The formulation of a three-dimensional (3D) small displacement finite element model based on interface elements to simulate the discontinuities is presented. In this model, the hydraulic behavior is simulated assuming that the water flow occurs only along channels located at the edges of the triangular interface elements that simulate the discontinuities. The model is used to perform coupled hydromechanical analysis of a large arch-gravity dam and to assess safety against dam base sliding, assuming different constitutive models at the dam/foundation interface and two different approaches: (i) strength reduction method and (ii) amplification of the hydrostatic pressure, assuming an increase in the reservoir level. The present study shows that consistent results are obtained with the proposed numerical model and that stability analysis should preferably be carried out using the method of increasing the hydrostatic pressure and the corresponding uplift pressures, as this methodology leads to significantly lower safety factors.

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