Numerical and Centrifuge Modeling of an Arch Dam on Jointed Rock

by Bernard Amadei, Univ of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA,
Tissa Illangasekare, Univ of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA,
C. Chinnaswamy, Univ of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA,
Chihsen T. Lin, Univ of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA,
John Z. Gibson, Univ of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Geotechnical Practice in Dam Rehabilitation

Abstract:

This paper addresses the stability of an arch dam built on highly fractured argillite. A large concrete thrust block combined with a wing dam forms the left dam abutment. The last FERC Part 12 report recommended that the left thrust block-wing dam area be analyzed using a more up-to-date structural analysis. Its stability was found to be acceptable during winter months but not during the summer months because of concrete expansion. The study presented in this paper consisted of designing an appropriate drainage system and conducting an evaluation of its effectiveness in reducing uplift in the dam left thrust block. The analysis was carried out using a combination of three dimensional finite element and centrifuge models.

Subject Headings: Arch dams | Concrete dams | Centrifuge models | Rockfill dams | Finite element method | Concrete blocks | Thrust

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