Evaluating Sensitivity of an AAR-Affected Concrete Arch Dam to the Effects of Structural Joints and Solar Radiation

• Published in: Strength of materials Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 341 - 354
• Main Authors: Lamea, M., Mirzabozorg, H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-03-2015; Springer
• Subjects: Case studies; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Dams; Materials Science; Radiation; Solid Mechanics; contraction joints; solar radiation Effects; finite element analysis; alkali-aggregate reaction; concrete arch dams
• ISSN: 0039-2316; 1573-9325
• DOI: 10.1007/s11223-015-9663-x

Alkali aggregate reaction may affect the ultimate strength and structural performance of wet concrete structures such as arch dams. In addition to chemically-dependent factors, such as alkali aggregate reactivity, humidity, the mixture materials, etc., some other parameters intensify the complexity of the reaction simulation. In this regard, structural responses, i.e., stress values, cracks and their distributions, as well as thermal status of the damaged structures are known significant factors. The accuracy and quality of modeling for the aforementioned factors, may affect the validity of performed simulations. Contraction joints impress the structural reactions and solar radiation mainly impresses the dam thermal distribution. In the present paper, effects of both mentioned parameters during simulating the performance of a double-curvature concrete arch dam suffering from alkali aggregate reaction are evaluated. A computer program previously developed by the authors is utilized for modeling the selected case study. In addition to the final step results, the histories of structural responses during the dam life time are accounted for. The final results show high importance of both phenomena when stresses are evaluated but, the effect of solar radiation is ignorable when only crest displacements are considered. However, the deduction is somehow different when responses of a middle step are compared. Such differences would be more impressive to final results when nonlinear materials are assigned to the model and may be a shortcoming for the simulations in which the material behavior is assumed linear-elastic.