Non-overflow section of Gravity dam

Schematics of Non-overflow section of gravity dam:

Figure 1: Non-overflow section

Material properties:

Concrete: Density: 23535.96 N/m3

M20: Elastic modulus: 19364000000 N/m2 Poisson’s Ratio: 0.2

M15: Elastic modulus: 22360000000 N/m2 Poisson’s Ratio: 0.2

Steel reinforcement:

Elastic modulus: 210000000000 N/m2 Poisson’s Ratio: 0.33

Types of load applied:

1. Gravity loads
2. Hydrostatic pressure – for maximum water level at heel side and toe side
3. Uplift pressure – maximum with drainage gallery
4. Seismic loads – horizontal and vertical
5. Pressure due to silt – for maximum
6. Wave pressure

Boundary conditions: Fixed at bottom end

Figure 2: Schematics for loading
Figure 3: Loading applied in Abaqus for the section and Drainage Gallery
Mesh:

Without reinforcement:

For concrete: Minimum size: 0.25

Total number of elements: 16353

For concrete: CPS4R (15851 – Quadrilateral elements) and CPS3 (502 – Triangular elements)

Figure 4: Mesh without reinforcement

With reinforcement:

Total number of elements: 47129

For concrete: Minimum size: 0.25

For concrete: CPS4R (15896 – Quadrilateral elements) and CPS3 (484 – Triangular elements)

For reinforcement: Minimum size: 0.001

For reinforcement: T2D2 (Linear line elements – 30749)

Figure 5: Mesh with reinforcement

Stress Contour:

Without reinforcement:

Figure 6: Undeformed shape for concrete region

The stresses are in N/m2

Figure 7: Deformed shape for concrete region
For drainage gallery:

Maximum stress: -1.72109e6 N/m2 (near drainage gallery)

Figure 8: Zoomed view for drainage gallery with the highlighted point for which stress is mentioned

At toe and heel:

Stress at heel: -405285 N/m2

Stress at toe: 21769.2 N/m2

Figure 9: Zoomed view for heel and toe with the highlighted points for which stress is mentioned
With reinforcement:

Figure 10: Undeformed section with reinforcement

The stresses are in N/m2

Figure 11: Deformed shape with reinforcement
For drainage gallery:

Maximum stress: -1.7185e6 N/m2 (near drainage gallery)

Figure 12: Zoomed view of drainage gallery with the highlighted point for which stress is mentioned

At toe and heel:

Stress at heel: -410853 N/m2

Stress at toe: 17806.4 N/m2

Figure 13: A zoomed view for heel and toe with the highlighted points for which stress is mentioned
Remarks:

1. As seen in the deformed shape of the section, the overturning moment at the toe is
effectively stabilized by the stabilizing moment. This makes the design safe from
overturning.
2. Using reinforcement has reduced the stresses throughout the section and it is advised to use
the reinforcements.

Note: Please check the calculation in the Excel sheet as the formula for min and max stress at the
toe and heel are inconsistent.