Numerical Analysis of Multiple Discrete Cracks in Concrete Dams Using Extended Fictitious Crack Model

A rigorous analytical procedure for the crack analysis of concrete dams is established using a newly developed numerical technique for analyzing multiple discrete cracks in concrete. The theoretical aspect of the problem solution is addressed first, focusing on the cracking modes of multiple cracks, followed by a brief review on the numerical formulation of the Mode-I type crack propagation for multiple discrete cracks. Next, a simple technique for modeling curvilinear crack propagation is introduced, and the method is examined through numerical studies on the bending tests of simple plain concrete beams with multiple cracks. Then, a well-quoted scale model of a concrete gravity dam is used to study the cracking behaviors in concrete dams; the numerical modeling involves not only the original single-crack problems but also multiple-crack problems. Employing two different types of numerical models and assuming multiple initial notches of different sizes at different locations along the upstream face of the model dams, various kinds of cracking behaviors are obtained and discussed, focusing on the crack interactions.