In this paper, seismic analyses of Pine Flat Concrete dam performed as part of theme A in the 15th benchmark workshop are presented. The results presented focuses on differences between mass and massless foundation and the influence from non-linear material behavior. The analyses performed with mass foundation using analytical free field input records and infinite boundary elements corresponded with the expected free surface results, for lower frequencies. For higher frequencies some discrepancies caused by the influence from the dam and the reservoir as expected. The corresponding analyses with massless foundation showed significantly higher accelerations but good agreement with the expected free surface displacement at the dam toe. To consider the influence from nonlinear material behavior, a dynamic push-over analysis (endurance time acceleration function, ETAF) was performed. It was possible to perform the analysis for the full duration of the record, despite significant non-linear material behavior. The initial damage occurred at the upstream toe and then showed significant induced damage as the level of excitation successively increased. In the end of the analysis, the top of the dam is cracked through which would cause an instability failure of the top of the dam.

In a reaction turbine, the runner outlet is connected to a diffuser which is called the draft tube. Large hydropower units with large effect and large discharge normally require large dimensions on the waterways. In some large-scale facilities, the total width of the draft tube is so large there is a need for a supporting centre wall in the draft tube. In the Swedish hydropower business, there are several cases where damages or cracks have been reported in the contact between the roof and the supporting centre wall. The most likely reason for cracking between wall and roof is when refilling the draft tube after it has been drained for inspection. A too quick refilling will give an upwards lifting force on the roof that can be larger than the capacity in the joint. There are still uncertainties regarding the risk for a long-term scenario where any operational pattern could give continued crack propagation.

Vattenfall Hydropower has made an installation with pressure and strain sensors in one of their facilities with a centre wall supported draft tube and a cavity between the roof and the rock cavern. The aim of the project is to get a better understanding on the behaviour of the roof and centre wall during different operational events by evaluating measurements from the draft tube and investigating possible load cases that can create continued crack propagation during operation. In this regard, in this project, the measurements are analysed to discover the different operational patterns and the corresponding effect on applied pressure on draft tube central wall and roof and structure response. A simplified finite element model of the draft tube is demonstrated and the response from the structure due to extracted load patterns is compared with the measurements.

One-year measurements of the unit operation indicated that unit operates over the whole range with many start/stops. Three major types of operation were: normal operation (working in daytime and downtime at night), continuous operation with no stop and start-stop events with sharp start/stop in the morning and afternoon. The analysis of pressure measurements indicated that the fluid motion in the straight diffuser is turbulent and possibly influenced by vortex formation under the runner. Therefore, the pressure on the right side of the central wall was higher than on the left side.

The quality of the strain measurements showed to be of insufficient quality and lack of information regarding the set-up. This has given questions on the possibility to get reliable results in the evaluation. Nevertheless, an evaluation has been performed. The evaluation of strain measurements demonstrated higher strain values at the upstream side of the central wall and roof. Moreover, the strain on underside of the roof was higher than on the central wall. Sudden fluctuation during continuous operation and sequence of start/stop were the cases that in long-term may cause damage to the structure due to fatigue problems. The results from finite element model indicated high tensile strength at the upstream side of the straight diffuser, in contact between the roof and the central wall where a crack has been detected in the real structure.

Cracks in concrete structures such as a concrete dam can be exposed to water pressure, for example, uplift pressure. The water pressure can be significant and may result in cracks propagating through the structures and thus it may result in reduced service life. However, the knowledge of water pressure within the cracks is relatively limited and is often neglected or just roughly estimated. The influence of crack opening rate on the uplift pressure distribution in the crack and the pressure variation during opening or sudden crack closure are questions needed to investigate. As an attempt to answer those questions, a pilot study presented here describes the possibilities and limitations of the proposed experimental setup; and technology (penetrability meter and tomography) as an examination method for water pressure in propagation concrete cracks. The test specimens examined here are exclusively cylinders cast of concrete with or without an initial crack.

The penetrability meter can be used to apply water pressure and to visualize the crack opening, X-Ray computed tomography test, was performed. KTH Civil and Architectural Engineering department has organized the laboratory resources.

The examples reported in this work show that the technology and equipment have great potential for future work on crack propagation, however, sample design and preparation, as well as testing need further development.

Knowledge of the elastic properties of concrete at early age is often a pre-requisite for numerical calculations. This paper discusses the use of a laboratory technique for determining Poisson’s ratio at early concrete age. A non-destructive test set-up using the impact resonance method has been tested and evaluated. With the method, it has been possible to obtain results already at 7 hours of concrete age. Poisson's ratio is found to decrease sharply during the first 24 hours to reach a value of 0.08 and then increase to approximately 0.15 after seven days.

Nuclear concrete containment buildings typically consist of pre-stressed concrete. The pre-stressing tendons are utilized to enforce a compressive state of stress to ensure that cracks do not occur in the containment structure. The tendons are thereby an important part of the containment building and important for its structural integrity. In many cases, these tendons are grouted with cement grout to prevent corrosion. This results however in that it is not possible to directly assess the tendons or re-tension these if significant long term losses occurs. The drawback with cement grouted tendons is, thereby, that it is not possible to directly measure the current tendon force. One conventional method to assess the status of the containment building, and thereby indirectly the tendons, is to perform pressure tests. The pressure tests are performed where the pressure in the containment building is increased. The response of the containment can after this be determined based on measurements of displacements and strains. The purpose of this project is to perform simulations of a pressure test of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) that is common in Sweden and Finland. Based on these simulations, the response of the containment building is determined and suggestions are made regarding suitable placement of measuring sensors. The suggested instrumentation has been divided into different types of sensors defined as detectors and support sensors. The detectors are needed to monitor the structural response of the containment while the support sensors are needed to give sufficient input to numerical analyses. It is suggested that detector sensors are placed at four vertical positions and at three points along the perimeter. At these locations, it is recommended that displacement sensors, strain gauges and temperature sensors are installed. In addition, it is also recommended that the relative radial displacement between the intermediate slab and the cylinder wall is monitored. As support sensors, it is recommended that the ambient temperature and relative humidity is measured since these constitute important boundary conditions for numerical analyses and thereby prediction of the structural behaviour.

Results from laboratory tests on statically loaded bolt-anchored, steel-fibre-reinforced shotcrete linings in interaction with rock are here evaluated using a 2D finite element model. Calculations are made to determine the state of stress in the rock-shotcrete interface near the rock joints. Plane-stress elements are used with a non-linear material model, capable of describing cracking and de-bonding during loading. The simulated crack position and force-displacement curves are compared with laboratory test results. Since most construction work in underground hard rock involves the use of explosives for excavation work, dynamic load cases are also analysed and compared to results from previous research on vibration resistance of shotcrete.