Effect of Alkali-Aggregate Reactions in Concrete Dams Using Finite Element Method

The effect of Alkali-Aggregate Reactions (AAR) in concrete dams was investigated using thefinite element method. Two models have been presented to assess the effects of the AAR Inconcrete dams. The stress dependency of AARstrains has been taken into account in the modelsand the degradation of concrete properties during the reaction has been implemented in the finiteelement program. The results of the isothermal and nonisothermal analyses of a gravity sectionof a Beauharnois power plant have been presented and compared with the measured data andthe results are in close agreement. The results of the analysis demonstrate the importance ofthe AAR in concrete dams. High stresses and large deflections occur in the dam during thereaction. Because of the stress dependency of the reaction, vertical displacements are smallerthan horizontal displacements.