Contributions of Flexible-Arch Configurations in Shimenzi Arch Dam: New Evidence from Field Measurements

This paper presents a retrospective investigation into the performance of a new type of flexible-arch configurations in Shimenzi arch dam based on the past ten-year-long field measurements. The flexible-arch configurations are mainly comprised of artificial short joints at the middle downstream surface and a middlecontraction joint with hinged well and enlarged arch ends with bending joints. Fundamental design considerations of these components are provided, and theircontributions to the performance of Shimenzi arch dam are discussed in detail using the monitoring data from joint meters, strain gauges, and thermometers. Some elementary numerical studies have been conducted on a typical arch structure with different arrangements of artificial joints. Both the field data and numerical resultsprove well the effectiveness of the purposely built short joints and the middle contraction joint on the relaxation of tensile stress mobilization. Field survey data alsoclearly demonstrate the significance of the hinged well at the upstream side of the middle joint for a continuous arch force transfer