E ect of Alkali-Aggregate Reactions in Concrete Dams Using Finite Element Method

Author

Department of Civil Engineering,Sharif University of Technology

Abstract

The e ect of Alkali-Aggregate Reactions (AAR) in concrete dams was investigated using the
nite element method. Two models have been presented to assess the e ects of the AAR in
concrete dams. The stress dependency of AAR strains has been taken into account in the models
and the degradation of concrete properties during the reaction has been implemented in the nite
element program. The results of the isothermal and nonisothermal analyses of a gravity section
of a Beauharnois power plant have been presented and compared with the measured data and
the results are in close agreement. The results of the analysis demonstrate the importance of
the AAR in concrete dams. High stresses and large de
ections occur in the dam during the
reaction. Because of the stress dependency of the reaction, vertical displacements are smaller
than horizontal displacements.