Crack propagation intro


Advanced level intro
Dams
Cracks
Case Histories
Scenarios
Simulation
Quiz
search
Glossary
Site Map
Help



Kolnbrein Simulations

Several two-dimensional computer simulations of the dam were performed by < href="../reference.html">Linsbauer et al and Lin to try to recreate the cracking. They noted that three-dimensional analysis would be more appropriate for this dam because of its curvature, but the tools were not available at the time.

First, an anlysis of a cross-section (*) of the dam, including the foundation, was performed to determine basic behavior of the dam.




Then two dimensional analyses of just the lower portion of the dam with a small portion of the foundation were completed. Both upstream cracks and the downstream crack were successfully simulated.

In the following two images, a drawing of the cracking appears on the left and the simulation of the cracking appears in the box on the right.






Computer simulations were also used to analyze the original design of the dam, the dam with the new buttress, and the stresses (*) in the foundation of the dam.



Kolnbrein problem Kolnbrein current status