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Optimization, Classical and Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Gravity Dam

Conference Paper · May 2013

DOI: 10.13140/2.1.2102.6565

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Arnab Banerjee D. K. Paul

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
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 Optimization, Classical and Finite Element Analysis of Concrete Gravity
Dam

Arnab Banerjee, D.K. Paul & R.N. Dubey

Department of Earthquake Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

ABSTRACT:
Optimization of resources considering safety is one of the main challenges in an engineering problem. Generally for a
particular site, height of the dam is fixed as per land acquisition, reservoir size and hydro energy requirement. This
paper deals with the optimization of dam section after fixing its height. The costs involved in construction of a dam are
that of mass concreting and base excavation. The other costs include making the diversion canal, installing the power
generation equipments and transportation costs which do not vary with the section geometry. A cost based optimization
algorithm is proposed to get an optimized dam section for a fixed reservoir depth. The stability of the optimized section
is checked using Chopra’s method, Saini-Viswanath’s lumped mass approach, Indian codal method and finite element
method. The scope of the paper has also been extended to the comparison of different methods of dam analysis.

Key Words: Optimization, Concrete gravity dam, Free vibration analysis, Response spectrum analysis, Finite element
method

1. INTRODUCTION

Gravity dam is one of the important structures for hydropower generation. It carries a huge load that of the
impounded reservoir water. Dam failure may lead to catastrophe. So, safety of dam is of foremost
importance. An optimization methodology has been proposed for dam designing.

A dam can be analyzed either by assuming the base of the dam to be fixed (Saini and Viswanath, 1977) or by
considering the foundation flexibility (Fok and Chopra, 1986), by beam method (Leclerc et al., 2003).
Simplified analysis procedure for earthquake resistant design of concrete gravity dams is also a popular
method to estimate the stability of the dam section (Fenves and Chopra, 1986, 1987). Finite element method
can also be effectively used to analyze a dam section. Depending upon the accuracy of results by various
methods mentioned above, modeling of the chosen concrete gravity dam has been done.

The objective of optimization is to reduce the cost. There are five independent variables related to the
geometry of a dam section and six constants for optimization of a particular dam including cost, peak ground
acceleration (PGA), height of dam and reservoir etc. Many investigators have suggested different
optimization techniques. Wu et al. (2008) and Hu and Li (2012) have optimized a dam section using Particle
Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique, while Salmassi (2011) and Li et al. (2010) have used Genetic
Algorithm to optimize a dam monolith. In this paper Dynamic Programming technique has been employed to
optimize a dam section. The optimized section has been verified by various dam analysis methods for
ensuring its safety.

1
2. OPTIMIZATION

The objective of optimization is to minimize the cost of the dam monolith assuring its safety. The parameters
of a dam section as shown in Figure 2.1 are optimized. A MATLAB coding is generated to perform the
optimization using dynamic programming method on the basis of IS: 1893-1984.

Figure 2.1. Different parameters of dam section

Figure 2.2. Flow chart

2.1. Algorithm of Optimization

The algorithm is given in Figure 2.2.

Objective function: f (xi, yi, …) → Min

The constants are listed below:

Height of the dam (H), Height of reservoir water (Hu), Peak ground acceleration (Ah), and Minimum width of
crest (B2)

The criterions as listed below have been used for optimization of the dam section.

Proportion of upstream fold height to dam height;

0≤ H1/H ≤ 1

Difference of downstream fold height to dam height;

0 ≤ (H-H2) ≤ 10

2
The slope of the upstream face;

0 ≤ L1/H1 ≤ 1

Sliding factor of safety (SSF);

SSF > 1

Overturning factor of safety (OFS);

OSF > 1.5

Stress at heel (σh);

σh = − ∑
W 6∑ M
+ < 1.5MPa
B B2
where, W and M are the vertical load and moment respectively.

Objective function is the total cost (TC) depending upon the cost of concrete (c1) with cost of excavation (c2).

TC = f ( xi , yi ,....) = ∑ ci xi = c1V + c2 B
B1H1 ( B − B1 − B2 ) H 2
Volumn of concrete (V ) = + B2 H +
2 2

2.2. Example of Optimization

A 160 m high dam section has been optimized for the region having PGA 0.36g. The cost of the 1m3
concreting is assumed to be INR 5000 and the same for excavation as INR 500. The depth of foundation is
20m below the river bed.

Horizontal seismic coefficient (Ah) has been calculated using the formula as given in IS: 1893 (Part-1)-2002.

 Z I Sa 
Ah =  
(2.1)
 2R g 

where Z is the PGA, I is importance factor, R is response reduction factor, Sa/g is the pseudo spectral
acceleration.
For block analysis the value of horizontal seismic coefficient (Ah) is reduced to half. In pseudo static
analysis, cyclic loading is not considered. The crack which opens may close in reversal of loads. So, in
pseudo static method of analysis Ah is reduced to half.

Sa/g is taken as 2.5 from response spectra as given in IS: 1893 (Part-1)-2002 and I/R is taken as 1.

1  0.36 x 2.5 
Ah =   = 0.23
2 2 

This value of Ah is used to perform pseudo dynamic analysis.

The optimized section is shown in Figure 2.3.
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 Figure 2.3. Optimized dam section

3. CHECKING STABILITY OF THE DAM SECTION

The seismic response of the dam is calculated by followed various methods.

3.1. Response Spectrum method (IS: 1893-1984)

The time period of concrete gravity dam can be calculated by following equation:

H2 wm
T = 5.5 (3.1)
B gE s

Where wm is unit weight of concrete, Es is the Young’s modulus of concrete

The base shear (VB) and base moment (MB) are calculated as

VB = 0.6WAh (3.2)

M B = 0.9WHAh (3.3)

3.2. Saini Viswanath method (Saini and Viswanath, 1977)

Saini-Viswanath’s method has been used to analyze a dam section. This method is based on lumped mass
approach. The dam body is divided into number of strips. Mass of each strip is calculated and lumped at the
CG of the sections. The flexural rigidity (In) of the nth strip, depends on the base width (Bn), is calculated
using Eqn-3.4. Using Ritz method the fundamental time period of the section is calculated. Figure 3.2. gives
an illustration of making section and lumping mass.

1  Bn + Bn−1 
3

In =  
12  2  (3.4)

4
 Figure
ure 3.2. Discritization of dam into lumped mass model

3.3. Modified Saini- Viswanath method

To consider the effect of impounded reservoir water

water, the hydrodynamic mass is lumped at the upstream face.
The hydrodynamic mass is calculated as per the formula given in IS-1893-1984.

θ 
0.732  
 90   y  2 − y  + y y  
Cs =    2 −  (3.5)
2  h  h h h  

M i = C s γ w hb( yi − yi −1 )
(3.6)

where h is height of dam, yi is the depth of water for ith node, γ w is density of water, b is the thickness of
monolith and θ is the upstream slope.

3.4. Simplified analysis procedure (Fenves and Chopra, 1986,1987)

The time period (T) of the dam without considering the influence of reservoir water is co
computed as follows

T = 12 H / E s (3.7)

The contribution of higher modes is also taken into account. The compressibility of water is also considered.

3.5. Finite Element analysis

The dam section is also modeled using 2D plane stress element. Base of the dam section is assumed to be
fixed. Subspace Eigen solver is used to calculate the frequency. The impounded reservoir water is considered
as vibrating lumped mass at the upstream face of the dam.

Equation of motion for combined fluid-structure

fluid interface is described as

 [M ] [0]  {D&&} [C ] [0]  {D& } [K ] − [Q]T  {D} {R ext }
+ + =
 ρ [Q ] [M F ] + [WF ] {P&&}  [0] [CF ] {P& }  [0] [K F ]  {P}  {0} 
(3.8)

5
After applying static condensation in Eqn-3.8 and neglecting the mass for surface wave [WF] and damping of
fluid [CF]

([M ] + ρ [Q] [K
T
F ]−1[Q ]){D&&}+ [C ]{D& }+ [K ]{D} = {R ext } (3.9)

The added lumped mass is ρ [Q ] [K F ] [Q ]

T −1

where [M], [C], [K] are stands for representing the mass, damping and stiffness matrix for the system
respectively. Suffix F is used to denote fluid. {D} and {P} vector represents the displacement and pressure
vector respectively, and [Q ] = ∫ [N F ] [N F ]dS where [N] is the shape function of the element.
T

The 2D finite element model is given in Figure 3.3.

Figure 3.3. Finite element model of the dam

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The free vibration analysis with and without impounded reservoir water and response spectrum analysis has
been performed by different methods.

4.1. Free Vibration analysis

The time period of the dam calculated by different method is tabulated in Table 4.1.

Table 4.1. Time period of the dam section by various approaches

Saini-Viswanath Chopra’s method Finite element method
IS: 1893-
with with with
1984 only dam only dam only dam
reservoir reservoir reservoir
Time Period
0.27 0.26 0.32 0.37 0.40 0.32 0.44
(Sec)

The IS: 1893-1984 and Saini-Viswanath’s lumped mass model gives comparative results. The structure
becomes flexible in Chopra’s method. Finite element method gives an intermediate solution.

The mode shape of the dam is plotted in Figure- 4.1 for FEM analysis and Saini-Viswanath analysis. Mass
participation factors for different modes from FEM analysis is plotted in Figure 4.2.

The mode shape obtained by the FEM analysis is quite similar with that of Saini-Viswanath method. FEM
analysis gives a clear indication of stiffness change at 60m height which is mainly due to slope change.

6
 Figure 4.1. 1st Mode shape of the dam Figure 4.2. Mass participation factor in different modes

The mass participation factor for the first mode is very less in dam structure. So, single mode analysis may
not end up giving a correct solution.

The mode shapes of the structure in the first two modes for FEM analysis are shown in Figure 4.3.

(a) First mode shape T= 0.32 sec (b) Second mode shape T= 0.16 sec

Figure 4.3. Mode shapes of the dam

4.2. Response spectrum analysis

The stresses at the heel is calculated by different methods and tabulated in Table 4.2. The stress contours of
response spectra analysis are plotted in Figure 4.4.

(a) Maximum Principal stresses (b) Minimum Principal stress

Figure 4.4. Stress contours for response spectra analysis

7
 Table 4.2. Stresses at heel by various approaches
IS: Saini-Viswanath Chopra’s method Finite element method
1893- with with with
only dam only dam only dam
1984 reservoir reservoir reservoir
Stress (MPa) 0.98 0.82 1.10 0.98 1.18 0.96 1.20
Base shear (MN) 37.8 25.8 38.8 42.2 62.6 28.2 42.1

The stresses calculated at the heel of the dam section by different methods (Table-4.2) are within permissible
maximum tensile stress for response spectra analysis (1.5 MPa). Limiting tensile capacity of the M20 grade
of concrete is 3 MPa (Chopra, 1986). The tensile stress of the dam section is within the permissible limit.

5. CONCLUSION

A cost based optimization procedure has been proposed for dam section. A comparative study of different
dam analysis techniques has also been performed on the optimized section to ensure the stability.

The time period estimated by IS:1893-1984 and Saini-Viswanath method is almost 15% less than that of
FEM analysis. But Simplified analysis method gives 15% more value than FEM.

The first mode contribution of the dam structure is almost 40%. So, participation of higher modes should not
be neglected.

Chopra’s method generally estimates higher value of base shear as compared to other methods.

The stresses generated at heel in response spectrum analysis of the optimized section are within the
permissible limit. So the safety of the section is ensured.

REFERENCES

Chopra, A.K., (1986) Earthquake Analysis, Design and safety evaluation of concrete gravity dams, Bull. Ind. Soc.
Earthq. Tech, paper no- 251, vol 23, pp-147-199.
Fenves, G. and Chopra, A.K. (1986) Simplified analysis of earthquake resistance design of concrete gravity dams,
report no. UCB/EERC-85/10, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley.
Fenves, G. and Chopra, A.K. (1987) Simplified earthquake analysis of concrete gravity dams, Journal of Structural
Engineering, ASCE, 113:8: pp. 1688-1708.
Hu, L., Li, Y., (2012) Optimization design of gravity dam section based on PSO algorithm, Adv. Mat. Resource, Vol
424-425, pp 535-539.
Indian Standard 1893-1984, (1984), Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures, Indian Standards Institution,
New Delhi.
Indian Standard 1893 (Part-1), (2002), Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures, Part-1 general provisions
and buildings, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
Leclerc, M., Leger, P., Tinawi, R., (2003) Computer aided stability analysis of gravity dams- CADAM, Advances in
Engineering Software 34, pp. 403-420
Li, S.H., Jing, L., Zhou, Q.I., (2010) The shape optimization of concrete gravity dam based on GA-APDL, Int. Conf.
measuring Tech. Mechantronic Automation
Saini S.S., Vishwanath M.K.,(1977) Simplified procedure for the aseismic design of concrete gravity dams, Bull. ISET,
Vol. 14, pp. 1-16
Salmasi, F., (2011) Design of concrete gravity dam by genetic algorithm, Int. J. Civil Env. Engg.
Westergaard, H.M., (1933), Water pressures on dams during earthquakes, Transactions ASCE 98, pp. 418–433.
Wu, X., Qie, Z., Zhou, Z., Zhang, H., (2008) Aplication of Improved PSO to optimization of gravity dam and sluice
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