Calculation of the periodic temperature field in a concrete dam

A transient thermal analysis of dams and their foundations has been formulated and solved using a finite element program. The two-dimensional model takes into account ambient temperature variations, solar radiation, snow cover, and the geothermal gradient. The dam has been divided in two parts, with different thermal diffusivities corresponding to the saturated and unsaturated regions. Particular attention was paid in formulating the boundary condition on the reservoir surface of the dam which was obtained from an energy balance taking into account the formation and melting of ice. The results of the simulation for a site in northern Quebec identify the zones where thermal strains can cause dangerous cracks.