Evaluation of the mechanical parameters of a reinforced concrete dam based on multi‐source data

In this research, we studied a roller‐compacted concrete (RCC) arch dam which was reinforced during the construction period to investigate the properties of mechanical parameters of the dam concrete after long‐term operation. Firstly, multiple methods involving core drilling, computerized tomography (CT), spectral analysis of the surface wave (SASW) of elastic waves, and an on‐site inspection were adopted to detect the quality of the dam concrete, which was followed by a forward‐analysis of the measured displacement of the arch dam and the water pressure component of the measured displacement was separated through regression analysis of statistical model of radial horizontal displacement. Subsequently, an optimization inversion of the elastic modulus of the dam body and dam foundation was conducted using a hybrid optimization method. The results showed that the compressive strength of the concrete in the body of the reinforced arch dam was over 30 MPa and the inversion results for the elastic modulus of the dam body were in the range of 30.1 ~ 33.3 GPa. According to the research results of multi‐source inspected and monitoring data during the operation period, the results suggest that the performance of the concrete of the dam body is in accordance with design requirements and the reinforced arch dam is properly operated.