Reinforcement impact on the stress-deformation state of concrete faced rockfill dam

ABSTRACT Introduction. The article considers results of research of reinforced-concrete face stress-deformation state depending on availability of the reinforcement. At some ultra-high reinforced-concrete faced rockfill dams (CFRD) the transversal (horizontal) cracks were developed in the seepage-control element. It is supposed that the cause of the crack formation is high values of tensile stresses. In this connection, opinions are expressed about the necessity of strengthening the face reinforcement. However, in accordance with the experience gained, in real dams the reinforcement, as a rule, is arranged in one row with reinforcement percentage 0.35 to 0.5 %. The urgent issue of CFRD studies is assessment of impact of the concrete face strengthened reinforcement on enhancement of its reliability. Materials and methods. The studies were conducted for different variants of rock fill deformation properties on the example of 100 m high rockfill dam. The reinforced concrete face was adopted to be wide (1 m thick). The reinforcement was adopted to be two-row one, with reinforcement percentage of 1.5 %. The study was conducted using the finite element method. The reinforcement was simulated using bar finite elements. Results. To reveal the role of reinforcement, analyses of the stress-deformation state were conducted for two cases. In one case it was assumed that reinforcement is absent and in the other case consideration was made for the face with steel reinforcement. Stresses in concrete and steel reinforcement were analysed. Stresses acting along the upstream slope were considered. Conclusions. It was revealed that due to the reinforcement of steel-bar reinforced concrete face it was impossible to provide decrease of tensile stresses in the face concrete down to the permissible level. Reinforcement may play a significant role in the face stress-deformation state only at the moment of forming transversal cracks in the face concrete, but such a case is inadmissible.