Study on equivalent strength for crack directors of RCC arch dam based on size effect rule

The size effect rule of roller compacted concrete (RCC) fracture toughness was reached on the analysis of fracture toughness of RCC specimens, which have been done by project team. And then the rule was applied to the calculation formula of equivalent strength of crack director in the RCC arch dam, thus a simple and useful formula was reached. The study shows that the equivalent strength of crack directors increases with the increasing intensity of concrete, but the surplus rate of strength of crack directors section decreases with the increasing intensity of concrete and the distance between centers of adjacent crack directors, and that bilateral interval crack directors are more efficient in weakening the strength of section than unidirectional interval crack directors in the case of the same distance between adjacent crack director centers. A good design for crack directors of RCC arch dam is proposed via the rule.