Evaluation on Concrete Face Slab Behavior of High Rockfill Dam by Finite Element Method

Abstract

This article presents the numerical analysis of concrete face slab behavior of a high rockfill dam by finite element (FE) method. The performance of water barrier system of the concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD) is mainly dependent on the concrete face slab behavior because it acts as the impervious component located at the upstream face. Despite interest in the concrete face slab behavior has received substantial attention during past decade, there are only few studies verify their analysis results with the dam instrument data and most of them mainly focuses on the deformation of the concrete face slab. The purpose of this research is to investigate the behavior of concrete face slab, including movement of joint, deflection and stress of the slab during construction and first impounding stages. A three-dimensional finite element analysis of the Nam Ngum 2 concrete face slab rockfill dam is performed based on monitored data. The performance of the slab – joint concrete face 3D model is assessed based on monitored data and numerical simulation. The importance of development of interaction model between the dam and face slab is highlighted. Finally, the analysis results could be an effective approach for concrete face rockfill dam designers.