Evaluation and Comparison of Stability Analysis and Uplift Criteria for Concrete Gravity Dams by Three Federal Agencies

Abstract : The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have developed and maintain guidance used to evaluate the stability of gravity dams. This technical report summarizes the results of an investigation of key aspects of guidance published by the Corps, Reclamation, and FERC used to calculate the stability of gravity dam sections. An important issue regarding the engineering procedures as practiced by all three agencies when performing stability calculations is how uplift water pressures are to be computed and applied in the calculations, The objective of this report is to identify similarities, as well as differences, in the calculation of uplift as well as crack initiation and crack propagation in the stability of gravity dams.