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Material Stress
MATERIAL STRESS
In the previous chapters, the failure modes that were
described considered the dam’s external stability as a
solid body. But there is one other distinct way the
dam can fail, and that is, the dam can break apart. So,
even though the dam may be constructed to withstand
sliding, overturning, and soil failure, it may still fail
internally.
In CountyDam, concrete block is used as the
construction material to construct a gravity dam. An
amount of reinforcing steel is automatically assumed
as a means of limiting cracking due to temperature
and curing. However, to present a further challenge,
steel may not be added to prevent cracking due to
material stress. You must design for this with the
strategic placement and filling of the block.
Material Stress
Two possible failures can occur at the horizontal
joints. One is shearing and the other is a bending or
breaking. Both are caused by the direct force of the
water.
Stem
Hydrostatic
Force (R)
R
Shear
Bending
Horizontal Joint Failures
There are four types of failures that can occur as a
result of too great a stress within the material.
(Add block and/or fill block at joint)
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7-1
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7-2