3-D fracture network dynamic simulation based on error analysis in rock mass of dam foundation

Accurate 3-D fracture network model for rock mass in dam foundation is of vital importance for stability,grouting and seepage analysis of dam foundation.With the aim of reducing deviation between fracture network model and measured data,a 3-D fracture network dynamic modeling method based on error analysis was proposed.Firstly,errors of four fracture volume density estimation methods(proposed by ODA,KULATILAKE,MAULDON,and SONG)and that of four fracture size estimation methods(proposed by EINSTEIN,SONG and TONON)were respectively compared,and the optimal methods were determined.Additionally,error index representing the deviation between fracture network model and measured data was established with integrated use of fractal dimension and relative absolute error(RAE).On this basis,the downhill simplex method was used to build the dynamic modeling method,which takes the minimum of error index as objective function and dynamically adjusts the fracture density and size parameters to correct the error index.Finally,the 3-D fracture network model could be obtained which meets the requirements.The proposed method was applied for 3-D fractures simulation in Miao Wei hydropower project in China for feasibility verification and the error index reduced from 2.618 to 0.337.

Application of strength reduction method to dynamic anti-sliding stability analysis of high gravity dam with complex dam foundation

Considering that there are some limitations in analyzing the anti-sliding seismic stability of dam-foundation systems with the traditional pseudo-static method and response spectrum method, the dynamic strength reduction method was used to study the deep anti-sliding stability of a high gravity dam with a complex dam foundation in response to strong earthquake-induced ground action. Based on static anti-sliding stability analysis of the dam foundation undertaken by decreasing the shear strength parameters of the rock mass in equal proportion, the seismic time history analysis was carried out. The proposed instability criterion for the dynamic strength reduction method was that the peak values of dynamic displacements and plastic strain energy change suddenly with the increase of the strength reduction factor. The elasto-plastic behavior of the dam foundation was idealized using the Drucker-Prager yield criterion based on the associated flow rule assumption. The result of elasto-plastic time history analysis of an overflow dam monolith based on the dynamic strength reduction method was compared with that of the dynamic linear elastic analysis, and the reliability of elasto-plastic time history analysis was confirmed. The results also show that the safety factors of the dam-foundation system in the static and dynamic cases are 3.25 and 3.0, respectively, and that the F2 fault has a significant influence on the anti-sliding stability of the high gravity dam. It is also concluded that the proposed instability criterion for the dynamic strength reduction method is feasible.

Feasibility of columnar jointed basalt used for high-arch dam foundation

Columnar jointed basalt, with a lot of small-spacing structural planes and poor integrity, is a kind of fractured rock mass. Through comprehensive study of columnar joints shape, roughness of fracture surface and chemical composition of basalt, it is known that columnar joints of Baihetan dam area were formed as a result of cooling and shrinkage effects of magma. The columnar jointed basalt is mainly formed through chemical reaction of chlorite, kaolinite, epidote and tremolite, and the columnar joints mainly consist of chlorite according to slice identification and chemical analysis. Test results show that the columnar jointed basalt has high uniaxial compressive strength, low friction coefficient, and high cohesion, shear strength and deformation index. Meanwhile, the columnar jointed basalt is closely locked, and joint surfaces are well closed. The permeability of the rock is quite weak, and the P-wave velocity in the rock could get up to 5 000 m/s. All these show good rock properties. The columnar joints develop regularly, different from the general fractured rock masses. In summary, the columnar jointed basalt can be used directly as a foundation of dam.

Coupling model for assessing anti-seepage behavior of curtain under dam foundation

The seepage under a dam foundation is mainly controlled by the performance of the curtain.Its anti-seepage behavior may be weakened by the long term physic-chemical actions from groundwater.According to seepage hydraulics and geochemistry theory,a coupling model for assessing the behavior of the curtain under a dam foundation is set up,which consists of seepage module,solute transport module,geochemistry module and curtain erosion module,solved by FEM.A case study was carried out.The result shows that the curtain efficiency is weakened all the time.Aqueous calcium from the curtain is always in dissolution during the stress period for simulation,which leads to the increasing amount in groundwater reaching 846.35-865.312 g/m3.Within the domain,reaction extent differs in different parts of the curtain.The dissolution of Ca(OH)2 accounts to 877.884 g/m3 near the bottom and is much higher than that of the other parts.The erosion is much more serious near the bottom of the curtain than the other parts,which is the same to the upstream and downstream.Calcium dissolution is mainly controlled by hydraulic condition and dispersion,and it varies in a non-linear way within the domain.

Dam foundation excavation techniques in China:A review

A protective layer(PL) is commonly reserved above foundation surface to protect the underlying rock mass during dam foundation excavation. In China, the PL of dam foundation is conventionally subdivided into two or three thin layers and excavated with the shallow-hole blasting method, even by pneumatic pick method in case of soft rock mass. The aforementioned layered excavation of the PL delays the construction of the whole project. After nearly 30-year practices, several safe and effcient methods for the PL excavation of dam foundation are gradually developed. They include shallow-hole bench blasting with cushion material(SBC) at the bottom of the hole, and horizontal smooth blasting(HSB). The PL is even cancelled on the condition that horizontal pre-split technique is employed during dam foundation excavation. This paper introduces the aforementioned two PL excavation methods(shallow-hole blasting and bench blasting) and horizontal pre-split technique of dam foundation without protective layer(HPP). The basic principles of blasting method, blasting geometry, charge structure, drill-and-blast parameters of typical projects are examined. Meanwhile, the merits and limitations of each method are compared. Engineering practices in China show that HSB is basically the optimal method for dam foundation PL excavation in terms of foundation damage control and rapid construction. Some new problems for dam foundation PL excavation arising, such as strong unloading and relaxation phenomenon that encountered in the gorge region of southwest China, are needed to be addressed; and the corresponding countermeasures are discussed as well.

Real-Time Grouting Monitoring and Visualization Analysis System for Dam Foundation Curtain Grouting

A real-time monitoring and 3D visualization analysis system is proposed for dam foundation curtain grouting. Based on the real-time control technology, the optimization method and the set theory, a mathematical model of the system is established. The real-time collection and transmission technology of the grouting data provides a data foundation for the system. The real-time grouting monitoring and dynamic alarming method helps the system control the grouting quality during the grouting process, thus, the abnormalities of grouting, such as jacking and hydraulic uplift, can be effectively controlled. In addition, the 3D grouting visualization analysis technology is proposed to establish the grouting information model(GIM). The GIM provides a platform to visualize and analyze the grouting process and results. The system has been applied to a hydraulic project of China as a case study, and the application results indicate that the real-time grouting monitoring and 3D visualization analysis for the grouting process can help engineers control the grouting quality more efficiently.

Tensile reliability analysis for gravity dam foundation surface based on FEM and response surface method

In this study, the limit state equation for tensile reliability analysis of the foundation surface of a gravity dam was established. The possible crack length was set as the action effect and allowable crack length was set as the resistance in the limit state. The nonlinear FEM was used to obtain the crack length of the foundation surface of the gravity dam, and the linear response surface method based on the orthogonal test design method was used to calculate the reliability, providing a reasonable and simple method for calculating the reliability of the serviceability limit state. The Longtan RCC gravity dam was chosen as an example. An orthogonal test, including eleven factors and two levels, was conducted, and the tensile reliability was calculated. The analysis shows that this method is reasonable.

Influence of location of large-scale asperity on shear strength of concrete-rock interface under eccentric load

The location and geometry of large-scale asperity present at the foundation of concrete gravity dams and buttress dams affect the shear resistance of the concrete-rock interface.However,the parameters describing the frictional resistance of the interface usually do not account for these asperities.This could result in an underestimate of the peak shear stre ngth,which leads to significantly conservative design for new dams or unnecessary stability enhancing measures for existing ones.The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the location of first-order asperity on the peak shear strength of a concrete-rock interface under eccentric load and the model discrepancy associated with the commonly used rigid body methods for calculating the factor of safety(FS)against sliding.For this,a series of direct and eccentric shear tests under constant normal load(CNL)was carried out on concrete-rock samples.The peak shear strengths measured in the tests were compared in terms of asperity location and with the predicted values from analytical rigid body methods.The results showed that the large-scale asperity under eccentric load significantly affected the peak shear strength.Furthermore,unlike the conventional assumption of sliding or shear failure of an asperity in direct shear,under the effect of eccentric shear load,a tensile failure in the rock or in the concrete could occur,resulting in a lower shear strength compared with that of direct shear tests.These results could have important implications for assessment of the FS against sliding failure in the concrete-rock interface.