Uplift pressures, shear strengths, and tensile strengths for stability analysis of concrete gravity dams
This report presents the results of a three-year study of uplift pressures and strengths which are used for stability evaluations of concrete gravity dams. Data were collected and evaluated from seventeen host'' dams. Detailed investigations which included core drilling, piezometer installation, laboratory testing, and evaluation of uplift and strength data were conducted. Additional data were compiled from published reports. Both uplift pressures and strengths are shown to be site dependent, because the geology of every site is different. Measured values of uplift pressures and strengths are shown to vary from those commonly assumed in stability analyses. Uplift pressures and strengths should be measured at existing dams to evaluate stability more accurately. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission now allows uplift to be extrapolated to higher reservoir levels provided the extrapolation is supported by site-specific data. The examples are presented to illustrate how extrapolation can be supported with site data. Databases of shear and tensile strengths of concrete-lift joints and concrete-to-foundation rock contacts are presented. The databases can be used for preliminary estimates of strengths and to improve confidence in limited site data. Concrete-to-rock contacts are shown to have significant strength. As a result, minimum factors of safety may be calculated for sliding along joints in the foundation rather than along the concrete-to-rock contact. An approach to stability evaluations using site-specific uplift and strength data is presented. Use of the approach will result in comprehensive stability evaluations which should be accepted readily by regulatory agencies. The approach is illustrated with several examples. Use of measured uplift and strengths, tempered with a thorough knowledge of site geology, reduces the uncertainty in stability evaluations and may justify use of lower factors of safety.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Denver, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- EPRI; Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7179389
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-100345-Vol.1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CONCRETES
SHEAR
TENSILE PROPERTIES
DAMS
STABILITY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
SAFETY ANALYSIS
STATIC LOADS
STRESSES
BUILDING MATERIALS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY SOURCES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
POWER
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
130300* - Hydro Energy- Plant Design & Operation
360603 - Materials- Properties