Concrete gravity dam stress analysis and application of concrete strength theory

Concrete gravity dam was built in world to uplift river water level and hydraulic power plant can generate electricity according to fluid mechanics theory. This paper investigates the stress distribution in concrete gravity dam with already derived elasticity analytical solution. Concrete strength theory was used to find an economic and rational dam profile. Results indicate that for service design purpose, the angle α between upper stream surface and down stream surface is better designed as α ≥ ctg^-1√(p/γ). Some other dam profiles may also alter the stress distribution to a safer region and is still under investigation.