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Small Displacement Coupled Analysis of Concrete Gravity Dam Foundations: Static and Dynamic Conditions

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Abstract

The explicit formulation of a small displacement model for the coupled hydro-mechanical analysis of concrete gravity dam foundations based on joint finite elements is presented. The proposed coupled model requires a thorough pre-processing stage in order to ensure that the interaction between the various blocks which represent both the rock mass foundation and the dam is always edge to edge. The mechanical part of the model, though limited to small displacements, has the advantage of allowing an accurate representation of the stress distribution along the interfaces, such as rock mass joints. The hydraulic part and the mechanical part of the model are fully compatible. The coupled model is validated using a real case of a dam in operation, by comparison of the results with those obtained with a large displacement discrete model. It is shown that it is possible to assess the sliding stability of concrete gravity dams using small displacement models under both static and dynamic conditions.

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Abbreviations

b :

Width of the joint element

c :

Cohesion

k n :

Normal contact stiffness, associated with the joint element

k s :

Shear contact stiffness, associated with the joint element

L :

Length of the discontinuity

m :

Nodal mass

u n :

Joint normal displacement

∆u n :

Displacement increment in the normal joint direction

∆u s :

Displacement increment in the tangential joint direction

σ t :

Tensile strength

σ n :

Normal stress

τ s :

Shear stress

φ :

Friction angle

a h :

Contact hydraulic aperture

a max :

Maximum hydraulic aperture

a min :

Minimum hydraulic aperture

a 0 :

Joint aperture at nominal zero normal stress

H :

Piezometric head

K w :

Water bulk modulus

P :

Fluid pressure

Q :

Rate of discharge

y :

Elevation

μ :

Dynamic viscosity of the fluid

ν k :

Kinematic viscosity of the fluid

ρ w :

Water density

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to EDIA, Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infra-Estruturas do Alqueva, SA, for permission to publish data relative to Pedrógão dam.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Portuguese National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria Luísa Braga Farinha, Nuno Monteiro Azevedo & Mariline Candeias

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  1. Maria Luísa Braga Farinha
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  2. Nuno Monteiro Azevedo
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  3. Mariline Candeias
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Correspondence to Maria Luísa Braga Farinha.

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Farinha, M.L.B., Azevedo, N.M. & Candeias, M. Small Displacement Coupled Analysis of Concrete Gravity Dam Foundations: Static and Dynamic Conditions. Rock Mech Rock Eng 50, 439–464 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1125-7

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