INVESTIGATION ON STATIC BEHAVIOR OF EXISTING ARCH DAMS USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD CONSIDERING NONLINEAR BEHAVIOR OF TRANSVERSE JOINTS

Abstract

In order to estimate the seismic safety of existing arch dams, it is essential to assess the static behavior and the mechanical resistance of arch dam. Numerical analysis model for transverse joint of an arch dam is developed considering the opening, shear slip and re-contact behaviors of transverse joints. The static behaviors of an arch dam under annual change of temperature and water level were calculated by using three dimensional finite element analysis method that incorporated the developed numerical analysis model of transverse joint. The displacement of the dam body was compared both in analysis and in measured data. At a result, the calculated results can give a good estimation for dam deformation of an existing arch dam caused by those loads. In addition, “arch effect zone” was developed under separation and sliding on transverse joints. Thus, the nature of load capacity mechanism was identified.