Consideration of the interaction between dam and bedrock in a coupled mechanic-hydraulic FE-program

Summary The behaviour of existing dams and some accidents have shown the great importance of the interaction between dam and bedrock with respect to mechanic and hydraulic effects.The mechanic and hydraulic properties of a fissured rock mass are mainly determined by the discontinuities. When their opening widths change due to stresses, the permeability is affected. This causes alterations in the piezometric head distribution which again affect the state of stress.The paper presents a new concept to take into account the mechanic-hydraulic interaction in a 3-dimensional Finite-Element-program. The concept is illustrated by an example (gravity dam).