Scholarly record

THE USE OF FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN DESIGN OF THE ROCKFILL DAM BODY OF THE PUMP-STATION HYDROPOWER PLANT

Ľuboš Hruštinec

Abstract

The paper analyzes the vertical and horizontal deformations of the rockfill dam body of the pump-station hydropower plant (PHP). We are dealing in more details with geotechnical design and assessment of the reservoir lower dam. We concentrate especially to the results of mathematical modelling of the lower dam body and the asphaltic concrete sealing (both the vertical and inclined) as well as to possibilities of undemanding effect elimination. At the problem solution there was used numerical method of finite elements (FEM). Deformations in the dam body are analyzed at various loading states (LS) respecting the real operation of the power plant. From the large series of interaction calculations we have obtained very valuable knowledge of mechanical behavior of the main objects of the PHP Ipel being designed. Based on the series of calculations we have concluded that the essential influence to safety and reliability of dams and their structural arrangements pertain to used materials and their interaction with the real subsoil not only during construction but especially during operation. Through the model (numerical) calculations there was proved the need of suitable material selection, including the processing technology and verification of their properties under the ?in situ? conditions. At solution of the complicated interaction problem there was used the method of mathematic modelling which proved to be very suitable (universal and effective).

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