Issue 61

H. Mazighi et alii, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 61 (2022) 154-175; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.61.11

Hybrid phase-field modeling of multi-level concrete gravity dam notched cracks

H. Mazighi, M.K. Mihoubi Mobilisation et Valorisation des Ressources en Eau (MVRE), Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Hydraulique (ENSH), Blida, Algeria. h.mazighi@ensh.dz, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5983-5473 mihkam@ensh.dz, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7858-0127 D. Santillán Dept. de Ingeniería Civil: Hidráulica, Energía y Medio Ambiente, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain david.santillan@upm.es, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9749-0522

A BSTRACT . Phase-field models have become a powerful tool to simulate crack propagation. They regularize the fracture discontinuity and smooth the transition between the intact and the damaged regions. Based on the thermodynamic function and a diffusive field, they regularize the variational approach to fracture that generalizes Grif fi th’s theory for brittle fracture. Phase-field models are capable to simulate complex fracture patterns efficiently and straightforwardly. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid phase fi eld approach to simulate the crack propagation in laboratory-scale and life scale structures. First, we apply our methodology to the three-point bending test on notched laboratory beams. Second, we simulate the fracture propagation in a life-size structure: the Koyna gravity dam. We account for the pressure load inside the fracture, and we study the effect of the position and number of initial fractures in the upstream face and the value of the Grif fi th critical energy release, on the fracture propagation under a flood event. The position of the fracture plays an important role in the final fracture pattern and crest displacements, whereas the value of the Grif fi th critical energy release alters the onset of the fracture propagation. We conclude that phase- fi eld models are a promising computational tool that may be applied to real engineering problems. K EYWORDS . Concrete; Crack; Dam; Fluid pressure; Phase-field model.

Citation: Mazighi, H., Mihoubi, M.K., Santillán, D., Hybrid phase-field modeling of multi-level concrete gravity dam notches crack, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 61 (2022) 154-175.

Received: 24.01.2022 Accepted: 21.03.2022 Online first: 30.04.2022 Published: 01.07.2022

Copyright: © 2022 This is an open access article under the terms of the CC-BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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