Three-Dimensional Analyses of Concrete Gravity Dams

Concrete Dams comprise of a high percentage of the large dams in the United States, many of which were constructed several decades ago. Most governing agencies require that periodic structural and stability analyses be performed on these dams to show that the structures exceed present safety criteria. The guidelines used for these analyses may include loads of greater magnitude than considered in the original design. These analyses may show that to satisfy present safety standards the darn requires costly rehabilitation programs. Due to the limited funds for dam repair and rehabilitation, it has become important that engineers more efficiently use the methods of analysis presently available and develop evaluation techniques which more accurately model the behavior of the structures. Advances in microcomputers have made the most sophisticated methods of analysis more cost effective and expanded the engineers capacity to more accurately model the structural behavior of the dam. A more accurate model of the structural behavior can reduce the cost in required rehabilitation compared to results horn traditional analysis methods. 6 pp., 3 references.