Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering – Schweiger (ed.

)
© 2006 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 0-415-40822-9

Reservoir, dam and rock mass interaction modeling

D. Divac & D. Vuckovic

Institute for the development of water resources “Jaroslav Cerni”, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

M. Zivkovic & S. Vulovic

Faculty of mechanical engineering, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia and Montenegro

ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to show the modeling of filtration and stress-strain processes, during
the building of dam and accumulation in naturally loaded structure, using the finite elements method. Analyzed
region is modeled by the 3D finite elements mesh, whereas real geometry and disposition of different geological
environments are completely respected. Through modeling of filtration, the fields of potential and fluid velocity are
obtained for determined boundary conditions and for accepted material properties as well as for field of filtra-
tion forces as a measure of interaction between fluid and soil. Achieved filtration forces are used as input for stress-
strain analysis. The elasto-plastic material model with critical state is applied for stress-strain analysis. The paper
presents developed methodology which gives a very good evaluation of global safety of structure as well as a pos-
sibility of the critical zones localization concerning static and filtration stability shown in analysis of FR
Macedonian St. Petka dam.

1 INTRODUCTION curtain and surrounding rock mass. Based on achieved

High dams as engineering objects have a significant
stress value in foundations and supports because of dam
dead weight as well as the water pressure on dam and
rock mass. The analysis of filtration and stress–strain
processes in the interaction of dam and rock mass as
well as the analysis of stability of object-rock coupled
system represents an important part of engineering
studies for projecting of high dams. It also helps to
select a certain type of dam for a particular area. Rock
mass on dam has to be investigated and modeled by
defining certain characteristics of its filtration and
stress-strain behavior. These characteristics are quanti-
fied by the laboratory tests and investigation in situ.
According to this the material characteristics for filtra-
tion and stress-strain numerical analyses are defined.
By the development of hardware and software tech-
nology, numerical methods made great expansion and
found application in many fields of technique replac-
ing traditional methods of modeling and offering great
possibilities in daily analytical and project work.
By modeling of filtration and stress-strain processes
for various conditions, the fields of potential, gradients
and fluid velocity are obtained as well as the filtration
forces which appear as the result of fluid and soil inter-
action. By modeling of stress-strain processes, the
fields of displacement, stress, elastic and plastic strains
of soil are obtained. The fields of all relevant values
refer to the complete investigated space: dam, injection
results critical zones from the aspect of soil stress and
strain can be identified as well as the velocity of fluid
flow. Also, the cumulative indicators of dam safety
(safety factor in relation to appearance of instability,
total flow through the dam, etc.) can be determined.
The finite elements method is applied respecting the
real behavior of mediums using suitable nonlinear
material models. The program PAK (which is devel-
oped at Mechanical Faculty in Kragujevac in coopera-
tion with the Institute “Jaroslav Cerni”) is used and
adapted for the purpose of solving the problems of fluid
flow interaction and deformation of rock mass.
2 MODELING OF FILTRATION PROCESSES
Filtration processes are analyzed according to the dif-
ferential equation of fluid flow through a porous
medium for stationary and non-stationary conditions,
which is derived based on Darcy’s law for the case of
small velocities
(1)
where q ⫽ the Darcian velocity, k ⫽ hydraulic con-
ductivity. The gradient of potential i is
(2)
where f ⫽ total fluid potential or head.

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 The governing differential equations of incom-
pressible fluid flow through a porous medium of vari-
able permeability have the following form, Desai
(1984),
(3)
where Q ⫽ volume source/sink and S ⫽ specific
storage. For the case of stationary fluid flow right side
of Equation (3) is equal to zero.
The finite element equation of balance is
(4)
where S is the profusion matrix
(5)
K is the hydraulic conductivity matrix
(6)
and t⫹⌬t f is the flux vector
(7)
When the procedure converge, we can calculate the
gradient of potential (2), Darcy’s velocity (3) and
flow quantity in each node of the model using the
potential,
(8)
Flow quantity on a contour is equal to the algebraic
sum of flows in nodes inside that contour.
3 MODELING OF STRESS–STRAIN
PROCESSES
Stress-strain processes are analyzed by elasto-plastic
material model with the concept of critical state,
Kojic & Bathe (2005). This analysis can give field of
displacement, total and plastic strains, stress and
other relevant internal variables for given initial and
boundary conditions.
The principle of virtual work has the following
form:
(9)
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The incremental iterative equilibrium equation of
finite element, which can be derived from principle of
virtual work (9), has the following form:
(10)
where:
(11)
is the stiffness matrix and
(12)
is the vector of internal forces.
F is the vector of external forces and ⌬U(i)
t⫹⌬t s
is the vector of increment of displacements. The
equilibrium iterations continue until the equilibrium
Equation (10) is satisfied within a specified tolerance.
To determinate the tangent stiffness matrix, we
need to find tangent constitutive matrix
(13)
For the case of small strains, total strains are
(14)
where t⫹⌬tB(i⫺1) is strain-displacement matrix. The total
displacements are
(15)
In the implicit numerical procedure for stress calcula-
tion we start with the assumption that the stress-strain
state is known at a material point and time t. The known
quatities are: stress t␴, strain t␧, plastic strain t␧p at time
t, and total strain t⫹⌬t ␧ at the end of load step. The task
within the stress integration is to determine stress t⫹⌬t ␴
and plastic strain t⫹⌬t ␧ at the end of time steps.
The basic steps in concept of the implicit stress
integration are as follows:
1. Express all unknown variables in terms of one gov-
erning parameter ⌬e mp (increment of the mean plastic
strain).
2. Solve the governing equation (yield function)
f(⌬emp ) ⫽ 0
3. Calculate the unknown variables using ⌬em p
the
solution of the governing equation.
4 COMPLEX MODEL OF FILTRATION AND
STRESS-STRAIN PROCESSES
Unique model for filtration and stress-strain processes
at St. Petka dam location (interaction of the reservoir,
dam and rock mass) is developed. Modeling is done
for terrain within area of dam with basis dimension of
252 ⫻ 250 m, from elevation 230 asl to 400 asl. The
3D elements mesh was developed for all calculations
(filtration and stress-strain) with 17099 nodes and
14505 elements (Fig. 1). Model is based on real filtra-
tion and stress-strain characteristics of presented medi-
ums. Therefore the mesh was formed to comprise all
quasi-homogenous zones by filtration and stress-strain
parameters (in total 41 zones). In filtration analysis,
boundary conditions with regard to potential are
defined as follows: at the part of the contour that cor-
responds to terrain surface below nominal water level –
potential is equal to 364 asl; at the part of the contour
that corresponds to terrain surface below river level
potential is 318 asl. Contour conditions with regard to
discharge (flux) are set according to model limits
(q ⫽ 0).
For stress-strain analysis, displacements for bound-
ary conditions are set up. In these analyses, following
loads are used: dead weight, filtration forces and water
pressure at dam.
In order to determine the significance of certain
elements of technical solution, several versions in
regard to prime model were established. Technical
solution of injection curtain are varied – dimensions
and filtration coefficient. The model without the cur-
tain is used as well as models with injection curtain
Figure 1. Model of partition place of dam St. Petka.
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where its filtration coefficient has been varied within
a 0.5–3 Lu range.
5 THE PARAMETRIZATION OF MODEL
The material characteristics for filtration and stress-
strain analyses are determined by using experimental
and numerical methods with verification on in situ.
Generally, methods for parameterization are heteroge-
neous and depend on applied investigation methods as
well as on material model. The filtration coefficients
for quasi homogenous areas are determined by interpo-
lation and extrapolation of values obtained by experi-
mental investigation of water discharge. The model
comprises real position and configuration of defined
quasi homogenous zones of natural rock mass and
cracking zones as well as injection curtain with possi-
bilities of variation of its dimension and water dis-
charge. An acceptance of filtration coefficient depends
on investigation level and results interpretation.
Although the rock mass is discontinuous medium, for
the dimension problem it can be approximated by the
quasi continuum. The constitutive model should
describe the most important rock mass features for
elasto-plastic behavior comprising strengthening and
softening. The model of mechanical behavior for rock
mass as a discontinuous and anisotropic medium is
developed. The interaction of cracks and monolith is
incorporated in the constitutive relations. The concept
of constitutive model for cracking rock mass is based
on coupling monolith deformation and whole systems
respecting their real space location and frequentation.
The model for discontinuities which is based on theory
of plasticity with appliance of non associative yield is
developed. The Desai’s one surface yield condition and
concept of limit state are used, Desai (1984), Desai &
Siriwardane (1984). The methodological procedure and
software for data interpretation obtained by investiga-
tion is developed in order to obtain parameters of con-
stitutive model of rock mass. This method is based on
iterative procedure of simulation by application of finite
elements method and errors minimization. The numeri-
cal models are formed for simulation of more typical
tests. Therefore, the definition of quasi homogenous
zones and derived investigation of mechanical prop-
erties enable definition of certain values of mechani-
cal characteristics which are used as input data for
stress-strain modeling.
6 CRITERIA FOR ANALYSIS
6.1 Criteria for filtration
Criterions for analysis of results of filtration processes
model are: allowed accumulation losses and criterion
connected to filtration dam stability defined by
allowed gradients. It should be noted that water losses forces are increased linearly until the dead weight
and stability are not independent, because forbidden load is constant.
filtration velocities can also produce progressive In the second case, safety factor is determined with
increase of water discharge, what would result in pro- regards to all loads at the same time (dead weight,
gressive increase of water losses, thus endangering hydrostatic water pressure and filtration forces). After
dam stability. determining initial stresses (step 1) and achieving nom-
Filtration stability at critical locations is investi- inal values for pressure and filtration forces (step 2), all
gated, that is, at contacts of various mediums, within loads are increased linearly.
a zone where underground water erupt, and at down-
stream under the dam. With regards to this, filtration
stability is defined by a safety factor for maximum 7 THE RESULTS OF FILTRATION
output gradients in relation to allowed ones (Fs ⫽
Idop/Imax; where Idop ⫽ allowed output gradient, Imax ⫽ The 3D sections and views are selected to describe
maximum output gradient). filtration analysis around the dam and through sur-
Criterions for allowed gradients are formed, through rounding rock mass. They show fields of potential,
application of results of numerous and of many years
investigations of local filtration deformation appear-
ance and of porous environment filtration collapse. In
regards of previous, allowed gradients criterions are
spatial variables, because they generally increase when
permeability decreases.

6.2 Criteria for stress-strain analysis

Main problem of applied method is criterion of dam
collapse. As very important, it has been supposed that
a numerical divergence coincide to physical instabil-
ity. This taken into account, criterion of dam collapse
depends on applied numerical method, on control of
numerical process and on a selection of tolerance
parameters.
Integral stability criterion for the complete structure
has been adopted and expressed through one number.
Safety factor is defined as the multiplication coefficient
for nominal load with which a balance of inner energy
can still be achieved. If load is further increased, proce-
Figure 2. Field of potential (kcurtain ⫽ 1 Lu).
dure diverge; Divac et al. (1996), Divac et al. (1998).
With regards to previous, the following procedure
of calculations is applied.
Initial stress field within a rock mass (that exists in
a nature before dam building) and a field of initial plas-
tic hardening are modeled by stress-strain analysis.
Dam building and accumulation formation, from
stress-strain aspect, is equivalent to application of pri-
mary load, that is, of water pressure to dam and applica-
tion of filtration forces due to underground water flow
(with its dead weight). Stress and strain fields that cor-
respond to exploitation conditions are then obtained.
After reaching exploitation condition, primary
load incrementally increases (dead weight, water
pressure and filtration forces) until the appearance of
numerical divergence. Integral safety factor of the
complete structure is defined here in two ways.
In the first case, safety factor is determined with
regards to water pressure on dam and to filtration
forces. After determining the initial stress field (from Figure 3. Isolines of potential (kcurtain ⫽ 1 Lu) on 320 m
the dead weight load only), pressure and filtration level.

724
velocity and gradients. Analyses are performed in
order to identify the influence of injection curtain
water permability. The total flow dependence of
the filtration coefficient for injection curtain is
determined.
The results of analyses of filtration for curtain
(kcurtain ⫽ 1 Lu) are shown on Figures 2–5 (field of
potential, velocities and gradients).
The flow dependence of the filtration coefficient
around dam and through the surrounding rock mass
ranges from 33 l/s (for cases without curtain) to 7.3 l/s
(for case with curtain of 1 Lu).
Figure 4. Field of velocity (vertical section, decreased 1.3
times in palette).
Figure 5. Field of gradient (vertical section, decreased 8
times in palette).
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8 THE RESULTS OF STABILITY ANALYSIS
The calculation of the stress field is firstly done, where
the load of the dead weigh of soil and dam is used.
Safety factor of the whole structure for the first cri-
terion (Fig. 6) is 4. With further load increase non-
stability occurred. Field of stress, in this case, is shown
on Figure 6, and field of total displacement on Figure 7.
Safety factor of the whole structure for second cri-
terion (Fig. 8) is 2. With further load increase non-
stability occurred. Field of stress, in this case, is shown
on Figure 8 and field of displacement in x direction
(direction of river flow) on Figure 9.
Figure 6. Field of effective stress at the moment of the
crash of structure (case 1).
Figure 7. Field of total displacement at the moment of the
crash of structure (case 1).

Figure 8. Field of effective stress at the moment of the
crash of structure (case 2).
Figure 9. Field of x displacement at the moment of the
crash of structure (case 2).
The following fact should be noted. If all loads
(dead weight, water pressure and filtration forces) are
multiplied, safety factor has less value in comparison
to the case with permanent dead weight. Regarding
the biggest deformations upstream on the left side of
dam, safety of a new structure (dam with rock mass)
probably is not less than safety of existing structure
(rock mass in natural canyon).
The results show that the global structure stability
is satisfied, i.e. building of the dam and forming of
the accumulation HEC “St. Petka” do not violate the
existing natural balance. A precise inspection is done
by using detailed calculations with analysis of poten-
tial unstable zones.
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9 CONCLUSION
The complex modeling methodology is applied for
interaction between underground water flow and
stress-strain process that occur due to formulation of
dam and accumulation in naturally stressed structure.
More realistic image of structure behavior is
gained by creating this model. Rationalization and
improved safety can be achieved by application of
these modeling results.
Applied methodology gives a very good assess-
ment of global safety of structure, but also make it
possible to locate critical zones regarding static and
filtration stability.
Based on achieved results it can be concluded that
design solutions of dam “St. Petka” have required
safety.
Considering significant potential of applied
methodology, its generalization and application for
different structures is possible. Additionally, more
information should be collected through the inspec-
tion work and observation.
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