Finite Element Simulative Analysis of Concrete Arch Dam Structure

Dongyu Ji
1,a
, Weixing Chen
2,b

1
Hunan Urban Construction College, Xiangtan, Hunan Province 411101, P.R. China
2
Survey, Design & Research Institute of Henan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (HPEB), SINOPEC,
Nanyang, Henan Province 473132, P.R. China
a
hnjdy@126.com,
b
1949cwx@163.com
Keywords: Concrete arch dam; Finite element method; Simulation analysis; Stress distribution.
Abstract. In this paper, finite element simulative analysis is proceeded for the concrete arch dam of
Tianshengqiao reservoir. Deducing variation law of the dams stress and displacement in construction
process and operational process. The analytic results are shown: concrete arch dam of Tianshengqiao
reservoir is reasonable structure, and every index meets the requirements for design.
Introduction
Tianshengqiao reservoir is located Laliu River, which is located Nandan county in the Guangxi
zhuang autonomous region. The main function of reservoir is irrigation, and it is a comprehensive
utilization water conservancy and hydropower engineering. The main buildings include concrete
arch dam, left bank gravity pier, shore spillway, penstock, power station and underport, etc. Total
reservoir storage capacity is 402 million m
3
, reservoirs normal storage level is 24 m, design level is
28.1 m, flood level is 30.3 m. The dam is concrete single arch dam, maximum dam high is 31.6 m,
the arc length of dam crest is 43.44 m, thickness of dam crest is 1.2 m, thickness of dam bottom is
1.7 m, hickness-to-height ratio of arch dams section is 0.07. River valley of dam site is
ladder-shaped, gravity pier is set at the left bank, river valley is rectangular-shaped.
Calculation Model
Model Parameters. Concrete strength grade of Tianshengqiao reservoir concrete arch dam is
C15, elastic modulus E
1
=22 GPa
[1]
, Poisson ratio
1
=0.167, density
1
=24 kN/m
3
. The foundation of
dam is Qixia limestone of permian period, the limestone is medium thickness seam, lithology is
hard, it is basic complete. Rock stratum tends to upstream, karst of dam site is not the development,
the rock stratum is not leaking. Rocks elastic modulus E
2
=12 GPa
[2]
, Poisson ratio
2
=0.28.
Model Element. Concrete arch dam and bedrock structure model is divided by eight nodes
isoparametric block element. The element is often applied to three-dimensional model of entity
structure, it has plasticity, creep, expansion, stress rigidization, large deformation and large strain
characteristics. It has eight nodes, each node has three translational degree of freedoms
[3]
.
Model size. Calculation model simulation range is listed below, calculation model along the
river is 90 m, transverse of the river is 75 m, vertical direction is 76 m. The simulation range of
whole calculation model is 90 m75 m76 m. Element division of dam and bedrock is shown in
Fig.1.
Calculation Cases. Considering mechanical characteristics of dam structure in operating
process
[4]
, researching three calculation cases as follows. Case 1, normal storage level and dam
weight, case 2, design level, tail water level and dam weight, case 3, flood level, tail water level and
dam weight.
Arch Dam Structure Analysis
Analysis Path. In order to analyzing concrete arch dam of Tianshengqiao reservoir, one analysis
path is defined, on the upstream face of crown cantilever, choosing one calculation point every 5 m


0844
2nd International Conference on Electronic & Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology (EMEIT-2012)
Published by Atlantis Press, Paris, France.
the authors

from dam bottom to dam crest, there are seven calculation points totally, these points assembled
analysis path. Stress distribution of the path is provided in the paper.

Fig.1 Element division of dam and bedrock
Stress Analysis. In order to researching stress distribution law of crown cantilever, obtaining
circumferential and vertical stress values of analysis path under various cases, the stress values of
crown cantilever under various cases are listed in the table 1.
Table 1. Calculation points circumferential and vertical stress values on the dams analysis path
under various cases(MPa)
Calculation Point 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Case 1
Circumferential
stress
0.386 -0.418 -1.513 -1.229 -0.425 -0.070 0.034
Vertical stress 1.871 0.522 -0.861 -0.405 0.117 0.116 0.001
Case 2
Circumferential
stress
0.455 -0.095 -1.821 -1.862 -1.057 -0.377 0.067
Vertical stress 1.850 1.089 -0.981 -0.583 -0.092 0.056 0.001
Case 3
Circumferential
stress
0.559 -0.513 -2.219 -2.226 -1.452 -0.736 -0.137
Vertical stress 2.666 0.969 -0.138 -0.098 -0.058 -0.020 0.005
We can see from table 1, under various cases, circumferential stress of crown cantilevers
upstream face is mainly compressive stress. But vertical stress is mainly tensile stress, tensile stress
value is larger especially in the junction of dam bottom and bedrock, this is mainly because the
junction appears stress concentration phenomenon. These larger stress values can be reduced by the
finite element equivalent stress method
[5]
.
We obtain concrete arch dams contour maps of first principal stress and circumferential stress
under various cases, contour maps are shown from Fig.2 to Fig.7.
We can see from Fig.2, Fig.4 and Fig.6, arch dams contour map of first principal stress is similar
under various cases, maximum principal tensile stress appears the junction of dam bottom and
bedrock. And first principal stress values increase with water pressure increases, distribution range
of principal tensile stress values also gradually increases. In the Fig.3, Fig.5 and Fig.7,
circumferential stress of arch dam is mainly compressive stress, and stress distribution is more
complex, near the arch dams bottom appears tensile stress, but tensile stress values are smaller.



0845
2nd International Conference on Electronic & Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology (EMEIT-2012)
Published by Atlantis Press, Paris, France.
the authors

NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
S1 (AVG)
TOP
DMX =.001968
SMN =-306738
SMX =.208E+07
BC
C
BC
C
B
B
B
B
B
B
C
B
B
B
C
C
B
B
B
C
D
B
B
C
D
C
B
B
C
B
D
C
B
D
C
B
B
A
D
C
B
C
B
B
D
C
B
D
C
D
C
B
C
B
B B
B B
C
B
C
D D
D
D
C
C
B
B
E
F
B
C
D
B
D
C
D
B
C
D
B
EF
C
B
C
D
B
C
D
E
B
C
C
D
B
B
C
B
C
B
B
B
CB
C
CB
C
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B B
B
B B
B
B B B B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
B
B
B B B B B B BB B B B B
D
B
C C
B
B
B
B C B C C D B CD F
E
GHI
D
F
C
E
G
H
I
C
F
E
D G HI
F
C
E
G
H
I
D
C
F
E
D G H
F
C
E
F
G
D
B
C
E
D
C
B
E
C
D B
C D
C
C
FH DEG
F
H
C
E
G I
D
C
C
D
C
D
E
F
C
D
E
F
DEG
F
H
C
G
C
D
E
F
H
A
A A
B
AB
B
B
C
B A
C
B
B
B
B
B B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
B
A
B
B B MN MX
A =-174324
B =90506
C =355336
D =620165
E =884995
F =.115E+07
G =.141E+07
H =.168E+07
I =.194E+07

ANSYS 10.0
NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
SY (AVG)
TOP
RSYS=15
DMX =.001968
SMN =-.182E+07
SMX =698701
FGH
EFGH
EFGH
EFG
H
F
G
F
E
F
D
BC
D
B
C
D
E
E
F
D
E
C
D
E
D
C
A
A
E
D
B
C
F
C
D
E
B
C D
A B
C D
E
D
B
C
E
E
B
A
C
D
E
B
E
F
E
D
C
A
E
D
F
D
E
B
A
C
D
E
D
B
F
E
C
C
D
D
E
C
F
D
B
C
E
D
E
C
B
D
F
C
E
F E
D
E
C
D
C
B
B
B B
C C
D D
E E
F
F
E E
D
D
C
C
C
C
D
C
D D
E E
F
F
G
C
E
F
D
D
E
G
D
B
C
F
E
E
B
C
D
F
E
G
E
B
D
F
E
C
D
E
B
C
D
E
D
C
D
F
C
B
D
E
F
G
FGE
F G
E
FGE
F
E
F
F
E
D
C
B
D
C
E
D
E
F
G
F
G
G
F
F
F
F
F
G
G
G
F
G
G
F
F
F
G
G
F
F
F
G
G
G
G G
F
G
F
G F
G
G
G
FG
G
F
G
G
H G
H
G G G FE G G H FG G G G G H
G
F
G G G H
E
H
G
F
H
E
H
G
F
E
H
G
E
H
F
E
G
F
E
G
F
G
H
GH
G
HI G H
G
H
H
F
G
F
G
H
E
F
G
H F
E
F G F
F
F
E
G
F
G
F
G
F
E
F
E
D
F
E
E
FF
F F
E D C
E
F E
D
E
F
F
F
G
MN
MX
A =-.168E+07
B =-.140E+07
C =-.112E+07
D =-839361
E =-559713
F =-280066
G =-418.234
H =279229
I =558877

Fig.2 Arch dams contour map of first Fig.3 Arch dams contour map of
principal stress under case 1(Pa) circumferential stress under case 1(Pa)
NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
S1 (AVG)
TOP
DMX =.002597
SMN =-282353
SMX =.231E+07
C
BC
D
CD
BC
C
B
B
B
B
B
A
B
C
B
A
C D
B
C
B
D
B
A
C
D
B
C
A
D
E
C
B
D
E
C
B
DB
E
D
C
A
B
C
E
D
B
C
D
B
C
D
E
C
A
B
D
C
B
D
E
E
C
B
D
C
B
D
A
C
B
C
B
E
D D
E
D
D
C
C C
B
B
F
G
D
E
B C
D
B
EH
F
C
D
A
B
E
C
DG
A
B C
D
E
C
D
B
EF
C
A
C D
E
B
C
D
B
B
C
A
B
C
B
B
C
CB
C
CB
C
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
B
C
B
B
B
B B B B
B
C C
B
B B
B BB B
C
CD
B
B
B B
B
B C B C BFGH
E
C
D
G
E
F
D
C
H
E
D
FG H
E
C
D
G
E
F
D
C
E
D
C
F G
E
D
C
F
D
E
C
D
E
F
C
D
E
C
D
C
C
D
B
C
B
C
D
EF HG
C
D
E F
I
CD
B
C
D E
CD
E
FCDE
F
CDEG
F
CDE CDEFGH A A A A
B
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B B A A
B
B
A
MN MX
A =-138102
B =150399
C =438901
D =727402
E =.102E+07
F =.130E+07
G =.159E+07
H =.188E+07
I =.217E+07

NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
SY (AVG)
TOP
RSYS=15
DMX =.002597
SMN =-.239E+07
SMX =649867
GH
FGH
IF
GHE
I
FGH
E F
G
FG
F
E
F
C
DE
B
A
D
C
BD
E
D
E
F
C
D
E
D
E
C
A
D
B
C
E
D
F
C
E
B
D
C
A B
D
C
D
E
G
B
B
C
D
F
E
A
C
EE
F
D
B
A
E
F
G
E
C
A
B
D
E
D
C
D
E
F
D
E
B
D
C
C
E
F
G
D
B
E
C
D
F
C
B
E
D
C
D
E
F
B
D
E
C
G
H
F
G
F
D
E
D
E
C C
B
B
B
B
B
C
C
D D
E E
F
F
E E
D
D
C
D
C
C
B
C
D
C
D
E E
G
H
D
F
B
C
E
D
E
F
D
G
F
E
H
E
C
B
D
F
E
G
C
D
B
C
E
F
DE
B
C
D
B
C
D
G
E
F
D
C
D
E
G
F G H
E
FGH
E F G H
E
FG
F G
E
F
F
D
E
C
B
D
C
B
D
E
D E
F F
G
E
F F
F
G
F
F
F F
F
G
G
F
F
F
G
G
H
F
F
E
F
F
F
G
F G
F
F
G F
F
G
F
G
F
G F
H
G
F
H
F G
F
G
E
G
G
H
G H
F
G G
F
G
HF
H
G
H
G
I
H
G F
G
H
G FG
E
DG
H
H H
H I F EG F G G HG G
H HH I H I
H
F
H
G
H H H
G
H
G
G
H
G
G
H
H
G
H
G
H
G
H
H
H
I H
H
H
H
G
H
G G
G
H
G
G
G
G FF
G
G
G
G
G G F EF
G
F
G
G
MN
MX
A =-.222E+07
B =-.189E+07
C =-.155E+07
D =-.121E+07
E =-871870
F =-533707
G =-195543
H =142621
I =480785

Fig.4 Arch dams contour map of first Fig.5 Arch dams contour map of
principal stress under case 2(Pa) circumferential stress under case 2(Pa)
ANSYS 10.0
NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
S1 (AVG)
TOP
DMX =.003232
SMN =-402559
SMX =.294E+07
BC
C
BC
C
BC
B
B
B
B
B
C
B
C
B
B
B
C
D
C
B
B
C
C
B
D
D
C
B
D
C
B
D
B
C
A
D
C
B
D
C
B
D
C
B
A
D
C
B
D
D
B
C
B
C
A
B
C
B
C
D D
D
D
C
C
B
B
E
F
G
D
C
B
D
E
B
C
D
D
C
B
FC
B
D
C
B
E
C
D
C
C
D
B
B
B
C
B
B
C
B
C
CB
C
C
B
B
B
B
B
B
B B
B
B
B
B
B
B
BB
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B B B B B B
B
B BB B B B B
D
G
C
B
C
B
B
B
B
B C C B C BEF
D
C
D GHI
E
F
C
D
G
H
I
D EF
C
DG HI
E
F
CD
G
H
I
D
EF
C
DF G H
E
C
F
G
D
E
B C
D
C
C
B
D
B C
C
C
EF
D
H G
E
F
H
D
G I
C
C
B DE
C D
E
CF
D
E
C
F
D
EG
F
H
CD
G
D
C
E
F
H
A A A A
B
B
A B
B
C
B
B
B
B B
B
C B
B
A
B
B
B
A A B MN MX
A =-217129
B =153729
C =524588
D =895446
E =.127E+07
F =.164E+07
G =.201E+07
H =.238E+07
I =.275E+07

NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
SY (AVG)
TOP
RSYS=15
DMX =.003232
SMN =-.290E+07
SMX =914744
GHF
GH
FE
GHF
EG
H
FE
GF
E
G
F
F
E
D
C
BD
C
B
DE
DE
E
CD
D
E
C
A
A
B
D
F
C
D
E
B
C
D
A
B C
A
B
C D
E
D
C
B
D
E
C
B
D
F
D
B
C
D
E
E
D
D
E
C
BD
D
E
F
C
B
D
C
E
D
B
C
C
D
E
B
D
C
E
F
D
C
C
D
E
F
E
F
D
E
D
C
C
B
B
B
B
B
C C
D
D
E
E E
D
D
C
C
C
C
D
C
D D
E
G
E
B
F
E
D
D
G
C
D
F
E
D
B
C
E
F
D
D
G
E
C
D
F
E
C
D
B
CD
B
C
D
G
E
D
C
D
E
F
D
GF
G
FE
GF
EG
FE
F
E
F
F
E
C
B
D E
C D
B
D
C
E
E
F
E
F
E
EE
F
E
F
E
F
E
E
F
F
E
F
F
F
G
F
F
E
F F
D
E
E
F
E
E
F
E
F
F G
EF
G
F
G EF EF
G
G
F
G
EF F
G G
F
G
G
F
H
GF G F FG EFD G
G H H F D
E FE GF GF
F
G
G
H G H G
G
G
G
G
G
H
F
G
H
F
H
F
G
H
F
H
G
F
HH
F
G
F
H
H
G
HI
G H
H
H
F
G
H
F
G
H
F
H
F
G
F
G
G
F
G
G
F
G
G
F
F
E F E
G
F
F
F F E
D
F F E
G
E
F
G
F
G G
F
G
MN
MX
A =-.268E+07
B =-.226E+07
C =-.184E+07
D =-.141E+07
E =-990636
F =-567218
G =-143800
H =279618
I =703035

Fig.6 Arch dams contour map of first Fig.7 Arch dams contour map of
principal stress under case 3(Pa) circumferential stress under case 3(Pa)
Displacement Analysis. Through displacement analysis of Tianshengqiao reservoir concrete
arch dam, getting radial displacement of crown cantilevers calculation points under various cases,
the radial displacement values of crown cantilever under various cases are listed in the table 2,
contour maps of displacement under various cases are shown from Fig.8 to Fig.9.
Table 2. Calculation points radial displacement values on the analysis path of arch dams crown
cantilever under various cases(mm)
Calculation Point 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Case 1 0.160 0.766 1.785 1.638 0.869 0.443 0.306
Case 2 0.057 0.579 2.177 2.446 1.734 1.049 0.640
Case 3 0.222 1.087 2.774 3.055 2.383 1.673 1.159



0846
2nd International Conference on Electronic & Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology (EMEIT-2012)
Published by Atlantis Press, Paris, France.
the authors

NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
UX
TOP
RSYS=15
DMX =.002597
SMN =-.002595
SMX =.455E-03
H
G
H
G
H
F
F
G
G
H
H
H
E
D
E
F
G
H
FG
FG
G
F
C
D
E
F
D
E
E
F
G
D
B
C
D
E
F
E
C
D
C
F
D
E
B
C
D
B
C
E
F
D
E
A
B
C
D
E
B
C
F
D
B
A
E
C
A
B
D
B
C
F
D
A
C
E
B
A
D
C
A
B
F
D
C
E
B
C
A
C
A
B
F
D
C
G
F
E
F
D
E
D
E
C
B
C
B
B
A A
A
B
C
B
B
D
C
C
D
F
G
F
E
D
E
D
E
C
B
C
B
A
B
A
B
A
D
C
B
D
C
F E D
C
B
C
D
E
F
C
E
G
D
C
F
E
D
C
D
E
F
G
D
D
E
F
G
E
E
F
F
G
E
E
F
G
F
G
F
G
H
G
F
G
H
H
H
H
H
G
H
G
H
F
G
H
G
H
H H
H
H E
D
F E
G
F
F
E
G E
F
G
H
H
H
G
H
F
G
H
G
F
G
E
F
G
E
F
F
E
D
E
E
D
E
I I
I
H
F
G F
H G
F
H
H
G
H
G
G
F
F
F
I I
I
H G I II I
H
H
G
G
H
H H
G G
H
G
H
H
H
G
H
G
H
G
H
G
G
H
H
G
H
H
G
G
G
H
H
H H
MN
MX
A =-.002425
B =-.002086
C =-.001747
D =-.001409
E =-.00107
F =-.731E-03
G =-.392E-03
H =-.532E-04
I =.286E-03

NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=1
SUB =1
TIME=1
UZ
TOP
RSYS=15
DMX =.002597
SMN =-.464E-03
SMX =.101E-03
F
G
F
F
G
G
G
F
F
G
F
E
F
G
H
H
D
E
F
G
H
H
I
C
D
F
H
G
C
E
H
I
G
F
B
C
D
I
H
B
F
G
I
H
I
B
C
E
F
H
I
G
D
F
H
I
B
F
G
H
I
F
A
B
C
E
G
H
G
H
I
G
I
I
I
H
H
G
G
F
F
F
E
E
F
A
B
A
B
A
A
B
C
B
C
D D
E E
F F
G
G
H
H
I
I
H
G
E
CD
A
F
H
E
G
B
C
D
E
F
H
H
G
E
E
C
D
F
H
G
F
E
D
G
F
G
F
F
E
F
F
F
G
G
F
F
F
G
E
H
F
F
G
F
F
I
I
G
G
F
H
H
I
F
I
F
I
F
H
G F
H
F
FG
H
FG G GF G GH H G H F GH F GH GH
E
F
E
D
F
F
E E E D E
F
H
G
H
F
H
G
H
F
H
G
H
F
G
G
F
F
FE
F
E
G
E
G
F
G
E
G
E
F
H
B
C
A
B A
D
B
C
A B
D
B C BC
E
D
C
E
D
E
D
F
E
F
F
F G
G
G
G
A
B B
C
B C
B C
D
C
D D D
MN
MX
A =-.433E-03
B =-.370E-03
C =-.307E-03
D =-.244E-03
E =-.181E-03
F =-.119E-03
G =-.557E-04
H =.716E-05
I =.700E-04

Fig.8 Arch dams contour map of radial Fig.9 Arch dams contour map of vertical
displacement under case 2(Pa) displacement under case 2(Pa)
We can see from table 2, Fig.8 and Fig.9, calculation points radial displacement values of arch
dams crown cantilever obviously increase with water pressure increases. But maximum radial
displacement appears the middle of crown cantilever, displacement values of crown cantilevers top
and bottom are smaller. Arch dams radial displacement values are more larger than vertical
displacement values, maximum vertical displacement appears crown cantilevers top.
Conclusion
From the above, Tianshengqiao reservoir adopts concrete arch dam is economic and reasonable.
The arch dams circumferential stress is basically compressive stress, and arch dams first principal
stress values are smaller, stress values can meet strength requirements, the arch dam structure is safe
and reliable.
References
[1] SL191-2008: Design Code for Hydraulic Concrete Structures(China Water Conservancy and
Hydropower Press, China 2008)(in Chinese)
[2] M.R. Shen, J.F. Chen: Rock Mechanics(Tongji University Press, China 2006)(in Chinese)
[3] X.CH. Wang, M. Shao: Finite Element Method Basic Principle and Numerical Method(Tsinghua
University Press, China 1997)(in Chinese)
[4] SL282-2003: Design Code for Concrete Arch Dam(China Water Conservancy and Hydropower
Press, China 2003)(in Chinese)
[5] B.F. Zhu, J.ZH. Gao, Z.Y. Chen, Y.SH Li: Arch Dam Design and Research(China Water
Conservancy and Hydropower Press, China 2002)(in Chinese)



0847
2nd International Conference on Electronic & Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology (EMEIT-2012)
Published by Atlantis Press, Paris, France.
the authors