Towards a Better Understanding of Concrete Arch Dam Behavior during the First Filling of the Reservoir

During the first filling, reservoir is gradually raised in multiple stages. At each stage, filling paused to allow adequate time for monitoring and evaluating performance of dam its foundation. The analysis monitored behavior assessment security conditions performed by comparing values measured system installed with predicted numerical models representing structural behavior, material properties, loads. This article addresses main aspects related safety control concrete arch dams during reservoir. Special attention given nonlinear induced opening/closing contraction joints. An example simulation an also presented. validation computed temperatures, displacements stresses was comparison dam.