Investigating the effect of jointed environment on the cracked concrete arch dam in 3D conditions using FEM

Concrete arch dams require foundation and abutment with high resistance since they have a particular structure and bear almost high loads induced by hydrostatic pressure. On the other hand, rock masses with high strength are fractured over time under tectonic effects and thermal stresses and usually, they include different degrees of joints. Previous investigations showed that, in most cases, these joints greatly affect the rock masses safety. For this reason, in the present study, the role of joints in the initial evaluation of rock mass as foundation and abutment was investigated for a cracked concrete arch dam. The effect of various geometrical parameters of joints, including their orientation and mechanical characteristics, on the safety of the foundation and abutment of cracked concrete arch dam was examined using finite element method (FEM). Different stages of dam construction were implemented in 3D modeling in order to apply real loads. To investigate the constructed models, the Morrow Point dam was selected as base dam and it was verified. The results showed that the geometric pattern of joints (slope and slope direction) and their mechanical characteristics significantly influence the safety of concrete dam supports. By controlling these parameters, the positioning conditions of dams can be evaluated. The effects of these parameters on the crack conditions are discussed in detail for a better understanding of further studies.