Safety Evaluation of Concrete Gravity Dams Founded on Inhomogeneous Rock Media due to Static Loads

Dams are mega structures which their safety is of great importance. One of the vague points for engineers during design process is the uncertainty in mechanical and geological form of their massive foundation which inhomogeneity is an inevitable part of them. Large fissures and joints in this media are one of the reasons that would lead to inhomogeneity. Therefore, rock foundation would be divided into many parts which can have different mechanical properties. In this study, static performance of Pine Flat dam is studied by modeling more than 1000 different FE models with different mechanical and geological situations. In specific, the effect of seepage loading is studied in all models. By looking to the results, it has been demonstrated that geological figure in many cases is more important than mechanical properties. In addition, existence of joints in some specific points of foundation would lead to critical responses, the mechanical properties be that as it may.