Study on safety evaluation methods for high arch dams

Main problems of the methods currently used for the high arch dam safety evaluation are discussed.Based on the analysis of the finite element method,a new system of the high arch dam safety evaluation is proposed.The influences of the existing cracks on dam working behavior are studied,and the allowable length of the crack in the arch dam is given.With the example of Xiluodu arch dam,comprehensively considering the failure of the dam-body,dam-abutment and dam foundation,this paper establishes a new method of the arch dam safety evaluation which is based on the elastic or elastic-plastic finite element analysis,and emphasizes the importance of the long-term safety evaluation for high arch dams.