Description

In this session, we will present a practical approach to understanding and evaluating the behavior of lift joints in arch dams. The session begins with the fundamental structural mechanisms of arch gravity dams, explaining how water pressure, self-weight, uplift, silt, thermal effects, and seismic loads are resisted through both arch and cantilever actions.

The session will then focus on how lift joints can become critical planes for tensile cracking and sliding, especially under different loading combinations. Attendees will learn how FEM results can be interpreted to assess stress conditions at joint elevations, identify potential tension zones, and evaluate sliding stability based on cohesion, friction resistance, normal force, and driving force. The session will provide useful guidance for engineers who need to assess dam safety, joint performance, and structural stability using a realistic finite element modelling approach.