The thermal stress state arising in the contact area of mass concreteduring construction

Introduction. The contact area of concrete gravity dams is of vital importance. Substantial temperature gradients and tensile stresses can arise in the process of concrete casting and thermal regime creation; they can cause thermal cracking. The practice of monitoring the construction and operation of concrete gravity dams has identified frequent vertical cracking along and across the dam axis, which can have an adverse impact on structural behaviour. Despite the large number of research works, some of which are mentioned in the work, the extent of influence of the modulus of elasticity in the bed on the thermally stressed state of mass concrete has yet to be fully resolved. The purpose of the research is to enhance the insight into the stress-strain state arising in the contact area of mass concrete and the bed, depending on its rigidity. Materials and methods. The research was conducted using the numerical finite element method and the MIDAS software package. Results. The influence of bed rigidity on the thermally stressed state arising in the contact area of mass concrete in the process of construction has been analyzed. Several options featuring different ratios between the modulus elasticity of the bed and mass concrete were considered in respect of a mass concrete structure made of vibrated and rolled concretes. Emerging stresses are compared. Mathematical expressions are obtained to project maximum tensile stresses occurring in the contact area. Conclusions. A more rigid bed rises maximum tensile temperature stresses, which increase the risk of thermal cracking. Research results can be used to predict maximum tensile stresses near the contact section of the mass concrete, whose dimensions are close to those of the structure under research.