FINITE ELEMENT MODELLING AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF CONCRETE GRAVITY DAM

Abstract

A concrete dam has been defined as a structure which is designed in such a way that its own weight resists the external forces. These dams can be constructed with ease on any dam site, where there exists a natural foundation strong enough to bear the enormous weight of the structure. Compressive strength of concrete has an important role in design of concrete gravity dams. However, the tensile stress of concrete may go above its maximum capacity especially during severe earthquakes, which cause cracks to occur at dams. The upper part of the dam, where the slope of the dam changes abruptly, especially on the downstream face, is critical and is vulnerable to tensile cracking during an earthquake. The effect will be even more pronounced owing to the fact that the fluid cavitations is found to occur in the upper part of the reservoir. The increase of the tensile stress at the upstream face of the dams causes erosion on the concrete lining of the dam surface. As a result, it causes the cros...