Crack behaviors at the downstream face of a concrete gravity dam caused by wintertime air temperature variation were investigated in this article. Various initial cracks according to crack locations and directions were assumed. Numerical analysis was first done by the…
Crack behaviors at the downstream face of a concrete gravity dam caused by wintertime air temperature variation were investigated in this article. Various initial cracks according to crack locations and directions were assumed. Numerical analysis was first done by the ADINA-T to obtain thermal distribution inside of the dam and the equivalent stress intensity factors at the crack tips for the various situations were calculated using the FRANC2D. Crack propagation possibilities were evaluated and crack propagation paths were investigated if the equivalent stress intensity factors exceed the fracture toughness. In addition, behaviors of cracks located at the upstream face were partially studied.