Crack propagation in concrete dams driven by internal water pressure

Concrete structures are in general expected to be subjected to cracking during its service life. This is the reason why concrete is reinforced, where the reinforcement is only activated after cracks occur. However, cracks may be a concern in large concrete structures, such as dams, since it may result in reduced service life. The underlying mechanisms behind crack formations are well known at present day. On the other hand, information concerning the crack condition over time and its influence on the structure is limited, such as the influence of water pressure within the cracks. The aim of this project is to study crack propagation influenced by water pressure and to define an experimental test setup that allows for crack propagation due to this load. Numerical analyses have been performed on an initial cracked specimen to study the pressure along the crack propagation. The finite element method has been used as the numerical analysis tool, through the use of the software ABAQUS. The finite element models included in these studies are based on linear or nonlinear material behavior to analyze the behavior during a successively increasing load. The numerical results show that a crack propagates faster if the water is keeping up with the crack extension, i.e. lower water pressure is required to open up a new crack. When the water does not have time to develop within the crack propagation, more pressure is required to open up a new crack. The experimental results show that the connection between the water inlet and the specimen is heavily affected by the bonding material. In addition, concrete quality and crack geometry affects the propagation behavior.