Stability Analysis of Gravity Dams on Sloping Layered Rock Foundation against Deep Slide

In this study, the stability of gravity dam on a sloping layered rock foundation is analyzed, and the stability problem of gravity dam against deep slide is particularly focused. The commercial finite element software ADINA is used to develop the constitutive law of anisotropic layered materials, such as the sloping layered rock foundation. Based on a strength reduction method, the stability of gravity dams on sloping layered rock foundation is evaluated, and a criterion for evaluating the instability is proposed. As an application, the proposed methodology for stability analysis of gravity dams against deep slide is applied to a gravity dam in ArHai Hydraulic Power Station in Yunnan Province, China. The complexity of dam structures as well as the anisotropic nature of layered rock foundation is tackled with a finite element simulation, from which the deep sliding mechanism of gravity dam and its stability against slide are analyzed. By using the different vertical and horizontal parameters in the layered rock foundation model, the stability of gravity dam against deep slide is analyzed. From the thorough numerical parametric study, it indicates that the methodology is effective, feasible and generally applicable. The methodology and numerical analysis presented provide a better understanding of stability of gravity dam on layered rock foundation and can be used as a valuable reference for design analysis of gravity dam.