Uplift Modeling for Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Concrete Dams
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 10
Abstract
The modeling of uplift pressures within a dam, on the foundation on which it was constructed, and on the interface between the dam and foundation is a critical aspect in the analysis of concrete gravity dams. The procedures for modeling uplift pressures are well established for the traditional hand‐calculation methods, but this is not the case for finite element (FE) analysis. In this paper, the procedures for including uplift pressures in the hand‐calculation methods, as prescribed by various government agencies, are reviewed and compared. Three separate models for including uplift pressures in a FE analysis are proposed. The use of these models is demonstrated in cracked‐base analyses of two different dam geometries with identical material properties. A linear elastic fracture mechanics criterion is used to determine the final crack length rather than the strength criterion used in the hand‐calculation methods. The results of these analyses are compared with one another and with results published elsewhere for one of the two geometries but with different material properties.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 10 • October 1994
Pages: 3025 - 3044
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 19, 1993
Published online: Oct 1, 1994
Published in print: Oct 1994
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