academic or professional environment, and (b) for performing research and development on the structural

safety of gravity dams. We have thus identified a need to develop, and put in the public domain, a
comprehensive computer program, CADAM, to perform stability evaluation of gravity dams based on the
gravity method.

2. CADAM – OVERVIEW OF MAIN FEATURES AND ANALYSIS OPTIONS

Figure 1 presents CADAM overall organisation. The dam geometry (Fig. 2a), material properties (Fig. 2b),
the various load conditions, cracking options, and load combinations are first specified as input data for
subsequent structural analyses. Additional input data as lift joints, post-tensioning cables, applied forces,
added masses, floating debris, silts and many more may be included in the model. The following analysis
options are currently available:

• Static Analyses: Static analyses are performed for the normal operating reservoir elevation or the
flood elevation including overtopping over the crest and floating debris.
• Seismic Analyses: Seismic analyses are performed using the pseudo-static method (seismic
coefficient method) or the pseudo-dynamic method by the simplified response spectrum analysis
described by Chopra (1988) for gravity dams.
• Post-Seismic Analyses: In post-seismic safety analysis, the crack length induced by the seismic
event could alter the cohesive shear resistance and uplift pressures. The post-seismic uplift
pressures could either (a) build-up to its full value in seismic cracks or (b) return to its initial value
if the seismic crack is closed after the earthquake.
• Incremental Load Analysis: Sensitivity analyses are automatically performed by computing and
plotting the evolution of typical performance indicators (ex: sliding safety factor) as a function of a
progressive application in the applied loading (ex: reservoir elevation, peak ground acceleration).
• Probabilistic Safety Analysis: Probabilistic safety analyses are performed to compute the
probability of failure of a dam-foundation-reservoir system as a function of the uncertainties in
loading and strength parameters that are considered as random variables with specified
probability density functions. A Monte-Carlo simulation computational procedure is used. Static,
seismic, as well as post-seismic analyses may be considered.

3 STATIC LOADING CONDITIONS

The load conditions supported by CADAM are shown in Figure 3. Some particular features are described
in the following. Various dam safety guidelines equations presented to compute the uplift pressures
according to the position of the drain from the upstream (u/s) face, the drain effectiveness and the
elevation of the drainage gallery have been implemented (Fig. 4). It is interesting to note that Federal
agencies in the US (FERC, USACE and USBR) are currently evaluating the need for unified Federal
criteria for the calculation of uplift pressures as well as crack initiation and propagation criteria in the
stability of concrete gravity dams (USACE 2000). It is believed that a computational tool like CADAM
could be of great assistance to conduct extensive parametric analyses for various dam geometry and
drainage conditions to study the effects of modelling assumptions on computed performance indicators.

4 SEISMIC AND POST-SEISMIC SAFETY ANALYSIS

Some original features that have been included for seismic and post-seismic safety analyses are
presented below. CADAM allows cracking to initiate either from the u/s face or the d/s face depending
upon the orientation of the base acceleration and corresponding inertia forces. Existing cracks computed
from the initial static conditions may close depending on the intensity and orientation of the earthquake
forces. Separate analyses could be performed successively with the base acceleration pointing u/s and
d/s to estimate the cumulative damage by reducing the cohesion that could be mobilised along the joint