Stability Analysis of Concrete Gravity Dam Foundation Based on Catastrophe Model of Plastic Strain Energy

A catastrophe model of plastic strain energy based on strength reduction factor was established. Then the model was applied to the sliding stability analysis of a concrete gravity dam. The results show that the catastrophe model of plastic strain energy can solve the issue of the dam stability analysis well. And the result of the catastrophe model is more accurate than that of the displacement catastrophe criterion based on displacement curves. The strength reduction is used to analyze the anti-sliding stability safety of a concrete gravity dam with the water depth of 100m upstream and 0m downstream. By catastrophic model of plastic strain energy, anti-sliding stability safety coefficient of this dam can be accurately determined to be 1.4. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Society for Resources, Environment and Engineering