The PAT-ASR team has participated to the 11th ICOLD Benchmark Workshop, which took place in Valencia (Spain) during the 3rd International Week on Risk Analysis, Dam Security and Critical Infrastructure Management (http://www.ipresas.upv.es/IIIsemana_E.html).
The numerical problem proposed in the frame of Theme A of the 11th Benchmark Workshop is very representative of those raised to engineers by swelling due to Alkali Aggregate Reaction (AAR). The example selected is that of Kariba dam, a large arch dam built on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe in the late fifties, which has shown evident signs of swelling soon after the starting of its operation.
The Kariba dam.
Radial displacement of the crest's dam.
The aim of the benchmark was to predict the displacement of the crest's dam in 2010, on the basis of measured value given between 1962 and 1995. A very special feature of the Kariba dam case is the apparently strong anisotropy which exist between the vertical and horizontal swelling rate. This has been interpreted as being due to the stress dependence of the swelling process.
We analyzed the dam with a modified version of the Finite Element Software DIANA.
In our model the definition of the volumetric expansion due to AAR is provided through the Larive's kinetic law. The three parameters of this law are calibrated in order to fit the dam's displacements.
The anisotropic effect due to the stress state was studied with different approaches based on the Saouma and Perotti's formulation.
Our model gives one of the best prediction in terms of vertical displacement.
Location of the main instruments.
Vertical displacement of the crest's dam.
We analyzed the dam with a modified version of the Finite Element Software DIANA.
In our model the definition of the volumetric expansion due to AAR is provided through the Larive's kinetic law. The three parameters of this law are calibrated in order to fit the dam's displacements.
The anisotropic effect due to the stress state was studied with different approaches based on the Saouma and Perotti's formulation.
Our model gives one of the best prediction in terms of vertical displacement.
Location of the main instruments.
Vertical displacement of the crest's dam.
Radial displacement of the crest's dam.
At this conference researchers as well as many practical engineers have participated, both of them really interested in AAR!
Here you can find some picture of the event:
Our presentation given by Rita Esposito (left). On the right Christine Noret, the chairman of Theme A.Here you can find some picture of the event:
Some participants with the chairman of the conference Ignacio Escuder Bueno (in the middle). 
