Author(s)

S. Hernández, L. A. Romera & A. Mosquera

Abstract

Geochemical processes are an important issue in dam engineering and affect several classes of these structures. They are mainly produced by the chemical interaction between alkaline components of the cement and concrete aggregates triggering an expansive process that creates tensile stresses in the concrete and therefore decreasing the safety level in the construction. This phenomenon has been studied in two Spanish dams, an arch dam and a buttress dam. In both cases a number of structural models were produced and the behaviour of the dam was matched with the numerical results of the computer analysis by defining quite sophisticated constitutive laws in the concrete in accordance with recent theories. 1 Description of the Belesar dam The Belesar Dam is an arch dam located in North West Spain. It has a height of 130 m and its maximum length at the top is about 275 m. A view the dam appears in Figure 1. Figure 1: Picture of Belesar Dam.

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