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Evaluation of excavation‐induced relaxation and its application to an arch dam foundation
Author(s) -
Chen S. H.,
Wang G. J.,
Zhou H.,
Wang W. M.,
Zou L. C.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.1001
Subject(s) - arch dam , excavation , geotechnical engineering , arch , ultimate tensile strength , foundation (evidence) , finite element method , stress relaxation , deformation (meteorology) , structural engineering , relaxation (psychology) , engineering , geology , materials science , creep , composite material , law , oceanography , political science , psychology , social psychology
SUMMARY Based on the damage mechanism of rock during excavation, the maximum tensile strain criterion for pinpointing relaxation region or excavation‐disturbed (damage) zone (EDZ) is introduced. To simulate the deformation and stress redistribution caused by the deterioration of the deformation and strength parameters in the EDZ, the ‘restraint‐relaxation’ finite element algorithm is formulated using the deformation and strength parameters of pre‐and post‐relaxation. The Xiaowan arch dam project (292 m high) is studied by the proposed method, in which the permissible tensile strain and fluidity parameter are evaluated using back analysis. The computation results have good agreement with the field monitoring. An important inference from the study is the necessity of considering the relaxation effects on the dam/foundation system during the construction and operation period. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.