Validation of Conventional Methods of Uplift Load Modeling for High Gravity Dams

Gravity dams are vital structures whose proper design and evaluation for stability are quite important. Effective issues on the stability of gravity dams are the uplift force and its distribution below the dam base. The uplift load pattern and distribution according to common codes are influenced by some factors such as head and tail water, assuming a segmented linear load distribution below the dam. In this research, to investigate the sensitivity of the load pattern to dam height, a number of gravity dams of Pine Flat type with different heights and their foundations are modeled. Coupled p-u finite element analysis is performed accounting for the seepage and stress field simultaneously. Dam body is considered to be completely impervious. The foundation rock is assumed as homogeneous and uniform, in terms of elasticity and permeability. The stresses generated in the dam interface for each case of the coupled hydro-mechanical analysis is compared against that of the conventional load pattern according to the USACE regulation for the same dam model. It was found that the error magnitude due to the conventional pattern has a direct relationship with the dam height. As the dam height increases, the amount of error of calculated stress increases. In particular, the error at the critical zones of the foundation such as at the dam heel, may raise even up to 40%. In the group of dams studied, the error increases even up to 12 times in respect to the expected error in the shorter dams. The deficiency could in some cases completely affect the safety of the dam. This research indicates the necessity of using more accurate methods of estimating uplift load under high gravity dams. Gravity dams are vital structures whose proper design and evaluation for stability are quite important. Effective issues on the stability of gravity dams are the uplift force and its distribution below the dam base. The uplift load pattern and distribution according to common codes are influenced by some factors such as head and tail water, assuming a segmented linear load distribution below the dam. In this research, to investigate the sensitivity of the load pattern to dam height, a number of gravity dams of Pine Flat type with different heights and their foundations are modeled. Coupled p-u finite element analysis is performed accounting for the seepage and stress field simultaneously. Dam body is considered to be completely impervious. The foundation rock is assumed as homogeneous and uniform, in terms of elasticity and permeability. The stresses generated in the dam interface for each case of the coupled hydro-mechanical analysis is compared against that of the conventional load pattern according to the USACE regulation for the same dam model. It was found that the error magnitude due to the conventional pattern has a direct relationship with the dam height. As the dam height increases, the amount of error of calculated stress increases. In particular, the error at the critical zones of the foundation such as at the dam heel, may raise even up to 40%. In the group of dams studied, the error increases even up to 12 times in respect to the expected error in the shorter dams. The deficiency could in some cases completely affect the safety of the dam. This research indicates the necessity of using more accurate methods of estimating uplift load under high gravity dams.