Assessment of the Impact of Hydrostic Water Pressure on the Stress State of Earth Dam in Three-Dimensional Formulation

Abstract

Based on Lagrange's variational principle, the article provides a general mathematical formulation and methodology for solving problems on the stress-strain state of earth dams with complex geometric parameters using three-dimensional calculation schemes under the impact of their weight and hydrostatic water pressure. Numerical calculations are presented to study the stress-strain state of an earth dam in a three-dimensional formulation, considering non-homogeneous and design features using the ABAQUS universal program.

The results of numerical calculations showed that the strains at specific points in the dam body depend significantly on their location. As the height of the dam increases, the vertical stresses also increase, especially in the part of the body near the foundation. In the middle part, where the crest axis is curved and the dam height is lower, the distribution pattern of longitudinal stresses is complex. The stress-strain state within the dam is significantly influenced by the reservoir fill level, which alters the symmetrical pattern of strain and stress fields in the dam's cross-sections. When the reservoir is completely filled, the vertical stresses in the upper prism almost double. The water pressure significantly increases the value of horizontal stresses along the entire profile of the dam, leading to a decrease in its resistance to horizontal loads. It was determined that when studying earth dams of any height, it is necessary to consider the impact of water in the upstream pool as the hydrostatic water pressure significantly affects the stability of the dam structures and slopes, and the overall reliability of the structure.