Modelling of the rock mass to evaluate the behaviour of concrete dams subject to blasting vibrations

Authors: Ricardo Fonseca, Jorge Gomes, José Lemos, Ricardo Resende

ABSTRACT:

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the vibrations due to blasting the rock mass in the concrete dam and foundation behaviour, evaluating their structural safety by a discontinuous hybrid numerical model with discrete and finite elements using 3DEC. The results of the numerical model are presented and compared with the measurements of velocities carried out during blasting, after which the effects on the dam were analysed. The numerical model developed was capable to reproduce the dynamic behaviour of the dam due the blasting of rock mass and to anticipate its effects.

Key Words:
Blasting, Dams, Discrete elements method, Dynamic analysis, Numerical modelling, Vibrations
Affiliation:

Ricardo Fonseca1 | Jorge Gomes2 | José Lemos2 | Ricardo Resende1
1Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Lisboa, Portugal
2Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC), Lisboa, Portugal