Abstract:
This paper presents an updating of the analysis and interpretation of
the structural behavior of Covão do Meio dam (in Portugal) which concrete is
affected by an ongoing swelling process.
The simulation of dam’s behavior over time is based on mathematical modelling,
considering a three-dimensional representation of the structure and of its
rock mass foundation, solved by the finite element method. All relevant actions
are considered, namely the dead weight of the materials, the hydrostatic pressure
on the upstream face, the temperature changes in the dam’s body and the concrete
expansions of internal origin. The computing of the swelling action considers the
influence of the temperature and of the stress fields. The structural model considers
the concrete viscoelastic behavior and the cracking phenomena.
The main monitoring quantities and the corresponding numerical results,
including the cracking patterns, show a good agreement, attesting the adequacy
of the models used to simulate dam’s behavior over time.