LEFM and Cohesive-Crack Approaches to Safety Evaluation ofConcrete Gravity Dams

摘要

Comparative merits of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) and cohesive crackapproaches are discussed in this contribution with specific reference to the evaluation of safety againstultimate failure of large concrete gravity dams. Focus is put on the predictive capability of thesealternative methodologies as the structural dimension and brittleness increase, and self-weightcontribution tends to stabilize crack propagation.