The Bearing Capacity of Dam Body Structure with Cemented and Weathered Materials: A Constitutive Model

Abstract

The Cemented Sand, Gravel, and Rock (CSGR) dam of Xijiang is the world’s first dam to use weathered material. As mechanical tests have shown significant low-strength and nonlinear characteristics in the constitutive curve of CSGR with weathered materials, a more rigorous approach is required in calculation and analysis. Based on the project, a constitutive model of CSGR with weathered material is constructed in the research. Then, the bearing capacity of the dam is studied by using the strength-reduction method and the overload method on the basis of the constitutive model. In order to further obtain the real bearing capacity of the dam, this paper also considers the hydraulic fracturing factor and analyzes its influence at the same time. Conclusions drawn are then applied to the Xijiang project, where the effect is promising.

Keywords

• cemented sand, gravel and rock (CSGR) dam
• weathered materials
• constitutive model
• strong reduction method
• overloading method
• hydraulic fracturing