Progressive failure research on foundation surface of the Longtan gravity dam

Abstract: The most common failure of concrete gravity dams is sliding along the foundation surface. This thesis studies progressive failure of the Longtan dam on the upper Hongshuie river in china.Two methods are used in this thesis; the Safety Reserve Factor (SRF) method and the Overload method. The SRF-method is used as a tool to study sliding failure along the foundation weak layer of the Longtan dam. Strength reduction coefficients decrease the cohesion and friction angle values for the weak layer of the foundation. Simulations with reduced shear strength parameter values gives information about the development of the plastic zone. The ultimate bearing resistance and the failure path along the foundation are obtained. The safety reserve coefficient is established through the strength reduction coefficients, when the plastic zone of the foundation is totally coalescent. To analyse the development of the plastic zone along the dam foundation with the strength reserve method, the commercial finite element software MSC.Marc is used. The results of the Safety Reserve Factor method (SRF) show that the failure of the dam is highly related to the strength of the interface between the dam and rock foundation. The strength reserve factor is determined to 2.4. The Overload method gives a visual deformation shape of the dam structure and pressure load at the moment of failure.