Research On The Technique Of Thickening In Thin ARC Dam

Arch dam constructions are developing rapidly with the increasing improvement of engineering techniques. However, several bad problems, such as development of cracks and leakage, overstress, emerge in old dam because of defections caused in construction period and ageing caused in service time, and these factors lead to a continual increase of thickening engineering. Since it is unfeasible to solve bad problems effectively by the general methods, the technique of thickening has been playing a great role in strengthening thin RC dam. The key point of thickening technique is the combination effects between the new and old concrete. So far, the technique of thickening in thin RC dam has always been employed empirically without much consideration of safety and economy; therefore, it is critical to conduct a special research on the technique of thickening.Nonlinear FEM analysis was employed in ANSYS software. Furthermore, several experimental scenarios were discussed by setting different parameters (anchor diameter and space between each other, as well as the depth into the old concrete); in addition, an orthogonal experimental design theory was introduced. Finally, cracking degree was regarded as an evaluation index. The results show the efficiency of decreasing cracking degree by thickening technique with anchor, and the selection of the most economic scenarios. Therefore, it is beneficial to engineering work.