Analysis on the Stress of Arch Dam Heel

Because of the characteristic of the elastic theory, the stress on dam heel is infinite, which makes the stress larger and larger with the increasing of finite element density. In view of this the dam heel stress tendency method is presented. This method uses the envelope of stress curves to replace real stress curve. In order to verify the method, Xiaowan high arch dam model under the water pressure has been set up, while the FEA modal is set up at the same time. The result of model experiment is close to the result form dam heel stress tendency method, which shows that the method is correct.