The Effects Of Vertical Gap On Gravity Dam

The vertical gaps are the vertical planes in the direction of axis of the top dam, from the left bank to the right of the riverbed, straight intersected by the transverse gaps. Every section dam is divided by the vertical and transverse gaps to building and heat distribution. There are two forms of vertical gaps, continuous and discontinuous, but both are temporary gaps; all the vertical gaps are to be grouted to make sure that all sections are formed to be a whole dam. However, some old gravity dams were not grouted well, even not grouted at all due to some historical reasons. According to the materials of these dams, the vertical gaps changes along with the changes of environment. These gaps that divide the whole dam, make the stress distribution different from the whole dam, even worse.In this paper, with the help of the general FEM software ANSYS, using APDL language built in itself and contact element, author writes the calculation program. Author studies the deformation of environment temperature,temperature distribution and temperature stress of the dam without vertical gaps. The dam with vertical gaps are also studied, including the open and close of the gaps along with the temperature changes and stress distribution due to the open and close of the gaps. The effects of TCC (thermal contact conductance coefficient) and friction coefficient on open and close gaps are studied. On the basis of the research of this paper, vertical gaps of old dams change due to the environment can be reflected basically and qualitatively and these studies can give supports to the repairs of the old dams.