Abstract

Cracks are often present in concrete dams, and may have relevant dimensions. The evaluation of the safety factor of old dams under higher flood levels has been investigated through fracture mechanics in previous years. Crack stability in concrete dams can correctly be predicted when uplift pressures are accurately modelled. Current models consider a uniform uplift pressure distribution, but recent experimental results show that it varies along the crack faces. In the present paper, uplift pressure effects in cracked concrete gravity dams are studied. A parametric study on the influence of uplift pressure on stress intensity factors and crack-propagation angle is performed. Furthermore, uplift pressure effects on the LEFM scale law for the maximum water level carried by cracked gravity dams are examined.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.