Säkra dammar

Dammar är gigantiska konstruktioner och är ofta gjorda av betong, ett heterogent konstruktionsmaterial, och är byggda på berggrund, vilket har notorisk variation i kvalitet.

Background

Current methods for assessing the stability of concrete dams are often analytical and require great simplifications to obtain results. Furthermore, the material properties of concrete and rock can vary greatly over the dam's volume and bedrock. These variations become uncertainties and thus affect the safety of the structure and are not fully taken into account in the current methods. However, by combining numerical analysis, which can accurately approximate results for complex problems through computer programs or algorithms, and reliability analysis, which allows the consideration of the uncertainty of variables that have an impact on stability, the shortcomings identified for the current methods can be addressed. By performing experimental tests on physical scale models, validation of the numerical analysis model can also be carried out. Through a combination of these methods, potentially a more robust method for the evaluation of the stability of concrete dams can be obtained.

Purpose and goal

The aim of this project is to evaluate and promote a multidisciplinary approach to assess the capacity of existing and new concrete dam structures. The goal is to develop a better method for assessing the load capacity and safety of concrete dams by combining reliability-based and probabilistic assessments with finite element modeling and scale model tests.

Facts

Funding: FORMAS ( Research grant No. 2019-01236 ) and SVC ( Research grant VKU32019).

Timetable: Project start in December 2020 and project end ( planned ) in November 2025.

Principal investigator: Gabriel Sas.

Members: Adrian Ulfberg, Jaime Gonzalez- Libreros, Chao Wang.

External members: Fredrik Johansson (KTH), Marie Westberg-Wilde (KTH & Afry ), Richard Malm (FOI).

Dissemination

1) Enzell J, Ulfberg A, Sas G, Malm R.Post-peak behavior of concrete dams based on nonlinear finite element analyses. Engineering Failure Analysis External link. Länk till annan webbplats.. 2021;130:105778.

2) Probabilistic finite element analysis of failures in concrete dams with large asperities in the rock–concrete interface (2023). Ulfberg. A, Gonzalez-Libreros. Yes, Das. Oh, Beast. D, Westberg Wilde. M, Johansson. F et al.

3) Ulfberg A, Gonzalez-Libreros J, Das O, Sas G, Andersson E, Bista D, et al.Influence of large-scale asperities on the stability of concrete dams External link. Länk till annan webbplats.. IABSE Symposium: Challenges for Existing and Oncoming Structures; Prague2022. pp. 1358-65

4) Ulfberg A, Seger A, Bista D, Westberg Wilde M, Johansson F, Das O, et al.Influence of concrete's mechanical properties on the cracking of concrete dams External link. Länk till annan webbplats.. In: Castanier B, Cepin M, Bigaud D, Berenguer C, editors. ESREL2021: 31st European Safety and Reliability Conference; Angers, France2021. pp. 1326-33.

5) On the applicability of scale model tests for concrete dams: A Review (2023)
Ulfberg. A, Gonzalez. Yes, Das. Oh, Sass. G, Ore. R, Johansson. F et al.