XFEM Method for Crack Propagation in Concrete Gravity Dams

Parvathi, I. Siva; Mahesh, M.J.; Kamal, Doaa

doi:10.1007/s40030-022-00636-2

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 24 publications

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“…This review introduced the XFEM formulation and its integration into commercial software and focused on discussing its application to composites, but mostly to biological and bioinspired materials. It is essential to emphasize that the XFEM has also been demonstrated in other fields such as in rockfill dams [130], concrete dams [131,132], bridges [133], and lithium-ion batteries [134,135]. In this review, the outlook section is structured point-wise, with perspectives for different research fields but also for the method itself.…”

Section: Future Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

XFEM for Composites, Biological, and Bioinspired Materials: A Review

Vellwock,

Libonati

2024

Materials

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The eXtended finite element method (XFEM) is a powerful tool for structural mechanics, assisting engineers and designers in understanding how a material architecture responds to stresses and consequently assisting the creation of mechanically improved structures. The XFEM method has unraveled the extraordinary relationships between material topology and fracture behavior in biological and engineered materials, enhancing peculiar fracture toughening mechanisms, such as crack deflection and arrest. Despite its extensive use, a detailed revision of case studies involving XFEM with a focus on the applications rather than the method of numerical modeling is in great need. In this review, XFEM is introduced and briefly compared to other computational fracture models such as the contour integral method, virtual crack closing technique, cohesive zone model, and phase-field model, highlighting the pros and cons of the methods (e.g., numerical convergence, commercial software implementation, pre-set of crack parameters, and calculation speed). The use of XFEM in material design is demonstrated and discussed, focusing on presenting the current research on composites and biological and bioinspired materials, but also briefly introducing its application to other fields. This review concludes with a discussion of the XFEM drawbacks and provides an overview of the future perspectives of this method in applied material science research, such as the merging of XFEM and artificial intelligence techniques.

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Section: Future Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

XFEM for Composites, Biological, and Bioinspired Materials: A Review

Vellwock,

Libonati

2024

Materials

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Comprehensive Safety Analysis of Ultimate Bearing Capacity Considering Hydraulic Fracture for Guxian High RCC Gravity Dam

Ramadan,

Jia,

Zhao

et al. 2024

Water

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The widespread adoption of high concrete gravity dams in China and globally underscores the necessity for enhancing design processes to address potential risks, notably hydraulic fracture. This study delves into this urgency by scrutinizing common design regulations and investigating the impact of hydraulic fracture on high concrete gravity dams. A comparative analysis of design specifications from China, the USA, and Switzerland, employing the gravity method, elucidates distinctions, focusing on the Guxian dam. In addition, evaluation of standards with higher resistance to hydraulic fracture was conducted using the Finite Element Method (FEM) with XFEM (eXtended Finite Element Method), employing initial cracks with different depths at the dam heel ranging from 0.2 to 2 m. The vulnerability of the Guxian dam’s cross-section to safety risks prompts further inquiry into the dam’s resistance to hydraulic fracture. Therefore, high-pressure water splitting risks to the ultimate bearing capacity were examined through FEM simulation and theoretical calculations. FEM simulations assessed the dam’s ultimate bearing capacity with and without automatic crack propagation combining the XFEM and overloading methods, particularly considering weak layers in the RCC (Roller-Compacted Concrete) dams. Theoretical calculations utilized a fracture mechanical evaluation model. This model derived mechanism formulas to assess the dam’s resistance to hydraulic fracture. Additionally, the investigation explored the effect of the uplift pressure on the ultimate overload coefficient. Findings indicated that the Guxian dam’s current cross-sectional area was insufficiently safe against hydraulic fracture, necessitating an increase to its cross-sectional area to 18,888.1 m2. Notably, the USA’s and Switzerland’s criteria exhibited greater resistance to hydraulic fracture than the Chinese criteria, especially without considering uplift pressure. Also, the Chinese regulations tended to calculate a lower dam cross-sectional area compared with the other regulations. Numerical calculations revealed a substantial decrease in overall dam safety (up to 48%) when considering automatic crack propagation and the dam’s weak layers. The fracture mechanical evaluation model showed that the Guxian dam had the lowest resistance, with an overloading coefficient of 1.05 considering the uplift pressure. In the case of not considering the uplift pressure, the dam resistance to hydraulic fracture increased and the overloading coefficient rose to 1.27. The results highlighted the risk of hydraulic fracture in concrete dams. Hence, it is recommended that design specifications of high concrete gravity dams incorporate safety analyses of hydraulic fracture in the design process. Reducing uplift pressure plays a crucial role in enhancing the dam’s resistance to hydraulic fractures, emphasizing the need for this consideration in safety evaluations. The differences between the three design specifications were particularly pronounced for dams higher than 200 m. In contrast, dams of 50 m yielded similar results across these regulations.

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XFEM Method for Crack Propagation in Concrete Gravity Dams

Cited by 2 publications

References 24 publications

XFEM for Composites, Biological, and Bioinspired Materials: A Review

XFEM for Composites, Biological, and Bioinspired Materials: A Review

Comprehensive Safety Analysis of Ultimate Bearing Capacity Considering Hydraulic Fracture for Guxian High RCC Gravity Dam

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