Energy release rate due to friction at bimaterial interface in dams

The interface between concrete dam and rock foundation is one of the most important regions governing the strength and stability of gravity dams. Many researchers have attempted to extend the fracture mechanics approach to study this rock concrete interface assuming stress free crack surfaces. In a real-life situation, because of the combined compression and shear loading, the crack faces come in contact resulting in a sizeable contact zone near the crack tip. Thus, frictional contact of the crack surfaces cannot be neglected.