Read Journal 0708 Volume 58 No 2 – Development of a practical methodology for the analysis of gravity dams using the non-linear finite element method
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For many decades the ‘classical’ method has been used to design gravity dams. This method is based on the Bernoulli shallow beam theory. The finite element method (FEM) has become a powerful tool for the dam design engineer. The FEM can deal with material properties, temperatures and dynamic load conditions, which the classical method cannot analyse. The FEM facilitates the design and optimisation of new dams and the back analysis of existing dams.
However, the linear elastic FEM has a limitation in that computed stresses are sensitive to mesh density at ‘singularity points’. Various methods have been proposed to deal with this problem. In this paper the Drucker-Prager non-linear finite element method (DP NL FEM) yield model is presented as a method to overcome the problem of the stress peaks at singularity points, and to produce more realistic stresses at the base of the dam wall.
