Rcc Gravity Dam Simulation Of Thermal Stress

RCC gravity dam as one kind of the dams, is popular around the world because of its accelerated construction, economy and safety. Temperature stresses as one of the primary problems of RCC dams is important to study in guiding engineering design and construction management.In this paper, as the example, Yongdingqiao RCC gravity dam is studied. By using ANSYS software, the temperature field and the stress field of the studied overflow block are researched during construction period and the first three years. Considering the impact of air temperature, hydration heat of cement, and concrete laminated pouring, the temperature field is studied by using the second-development platform.As well as considering the impact of elastic modulus, creep degree and so on, the stress field is studied. According to the studies, the methods of simulation analysis are made up. Main research results and conclusions are as follows:(1) Based on the concrete material parameters from tests and the research on concrete creep, the creep equation applicable to Yongdingqiao RCC gravity dam is made up and used in the simulation calculations.(2) The temperature field of overflow block is studied. Under the natural concrete pouring temperature, the highest temperature of the dam is 35.9℃, while under the control concrete pouring temperature, it is 31.6℃, which happens in summer. The places with high temperature under the two conditions are similar. The concrete pouring temperatures affect on the temperature fields clearly.(3) The stress field of the overflow block of the dam is studied. Under the five calculation cases, the development of stress field of the dam during construction period and the first three years of operation period are summarized. In the winter during the construction period, due to the larger temperature difference between inside and outside, tensile stresses of the dam is large, especially in the dam foundation. The largest tensile stress of the foundation is more than 2.0MPa and is not allowed by the criterion. More measures should be provided to meet the requirements of the design and construction to the foundation. Stresses field of the dam under the temperature load is studied individually. According to the result, during construction period, the temperature load is the main load and it is very important for the stress development. Temperature load is also the decisive factor for the cracks in the dam. Therefore, temperature difference between inside and outside and the changes of temperature stresses should be concerned in the structure and the construction design process.The research results offer science reference for the design and construction basis for Yongdingqiao RCC gravity dam.