The determination of the uplift pressures in concrete dams, resting on continuous rocks, constitutes a complex three-dimensional seepage analysis problem due mainly to the presence of drains perforated in the foundations. Because of the difficulties involved, this type of analysis is seldom performed in dam design practice. A numerical approach to solve this problem is presented. A comparison with a closed form solution available in the literature is performed and the results obtained shows that the proposed numerical model is adequate for practical purposes. It is suggested that the proposed solution could be used in most cases of concrete dam design, including those where geological or geometrical conditions would not allow the use of the closed form solution.
Foundations of dams; flux and flow; subpression
