Stress and Sliding Stability Analysis of Songlin Rock-Filled Concrete Gravity Dam

Abstract: The construction of Songlin rock-filled concrete gravity dam, located in the Yunnan province, China began in the end of 2015. In this master thesis the finite element method (FEM) based software Abaqus has been used to perform a computational analysis on tension stresses, compression stresses and sliding stability for static conditions. One overflow section and one non-overflow section of the dam have been analysed. The results of the analysis have been evaluated by comparing with Chinese standards for dam safety and is intended to help engineers with making decisions in the construction process of the dam. The measured compressive stress values of both the overflow and non-overflow section are not evaluated to be within safe levels, further evaluation is required to ensure the safety of the dam. The dam is considered to be safe from vertical tension in the analysed region, however an extended evaluation including the whole dam base is recommended. The analysed cross-sections for sliding stability can be considered safe, but further analysis is required to make a conclusion of the sliding stability of the full dam base.