Simulating Behaviour of AAR-Affected Arch Dams Including Stress Analysis

摘要

An academic computer program known as NSAD-DRI has been developed to capture the effects of alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) on the structural behaviour of concrete arch dams in 3D space. An appropriate phenomenological model for simulating AAR in concrete has been utilized to provide the required subroutines in the source code. The Amir Kabir arch dam in Iran was chosen as the case study, and two transient static analyses were conducted for evaluating the effects of AAR. Non-linearity due to the degradation of mechanical properties induced by AAR was included within the analyses procedure. The thermal and hydrostatic loads varied monthly, based on recorded data in the dam site. It was found that AAR can considerably increase the values of principal stresses and strains, while the computed crest displacements ascend gradually over time. Generally, the present study certifies the importance of performing predictive analyses and necessary tests before designing and constructing arch dams, in order to avoid AAR damage.