A Concrete Arch Dam in Arizona (USA)

Stewart Mountain Dam

 Deterioration of Dam
 Analysis: Unsafe under Earthquake load
 Measures:
• Complete replacement
• Epoxy coated Post-tensioning

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Analysis
Loads considered
 Gravity
 Hydrostatic Pressure
 Temperature
 Seismic
Joint element incorporated
Collision between elements modeled
Analysis accounts for additional flexibility
provided by non-linear joints
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Alkali Silica Reaction
Reaction of Aggregates with Cement
Causes Extensive Cracking and
Fragmentation
Extensive testing is performed

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Results of testing analysis
Interior concrete was still strong
No further deterioration due to ASR
expected
Total replacement is not required
Epoxy coated Post-tensioning
 Best remedy for seismic safety
 Least expensive
 Used 62 cables, 22 wire 15.24mm diameter
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Modeling of the joint elements
Three Dimensional Element
Account for the following effects
 Friction
 Loss of contact between different pours
 Impact between disjointed elements
 Loss of joint material

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Joint types
Shear component of the joint force
 force is in the joint plane
 determined by frictional interaction
Normal component
No inertial properties
Nonlinear (Piecewise linear) force-
displacement relationship
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Alkali Silica Reaction
Reaction of alkali ions present in Portland
Cement and siliceous material in aggregates
in the presence on hydroxyl ions
Leads to expansion, cracking, loss of
strength, durability and elasticity
Cause of distress for structures exposed to
humid environment

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Chemistry of Alkali Silica Reaction
Cement production involves raw materials
that contain alkalis in the range of 0.2 to 1.5
percent of Na2O
This generates a pore fluid with high pH
(12.5 to 13.5)
Strong alkalinity causes the acidic siliceous
material to react

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ASTM specification
ASTM C150 designates cements with more
than 0.6 percent of Na2O as high-alkali
cements
Even with low alkali content, but sufficient
amount of cement, alkali-silica reactions
can occur
Investigations show that if total alkali
content is less than 3 kg/m3, alkali-silica
reactions will not occur ASU/ACS/99
Contribution of Calcium Hydroxide
Ca(OH)2 is present in sizable proportions in
cement
Even if alkali content is small, there is a
chance of alkali-silica reaction due to
 alkaline admixtures
 aggregates that are contaminated
 penetration of seawater
 deicing solutions
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Expansion Mechanism
 Breakdown of the silica structure by hydroxyl
ions
 Adsorption of alkali ions on new product
 This alkali-silicate gel swells in presence of
water through the process of osmosis

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Case Histories
Buck Hydroelectric plant on New River
(Virginia, US)
Arch dam in California
 crown deflection of 127 mm in 9 years
Railroad Canyon Dam
Morrow Point Dam, Colorado, USA
Stewart Mountain Dam, Arizona
Parker Dam (Arizona)
 expansion in excess of 0.1 percent
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Factors influencing the reaction
Alkali content of cement and other sources
Amount, size and reactivity of alkali-
reactive material present in aggregate
Availability of moisture
Ambient temperature
Expansive effects of MgO and CaO

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Measures for prevention
Low alkali content cement and mildly
reactive aggregate
Sweetening of aggregate using limestone
Control of access of water to concrete
Replacing part of cement by pozzolanic
admixtures
MgO content should not exceed 6 percent
(ASTM C 150-83)
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 International Congress
Creating With Concrete

Conference 5: Concrete Durability and Repair Technology

Theme 4: Repair Materials and Methods
Date: Thursday 9 September, 1999; 14:00-17:30
Chair: G.G.T. Masterton and M. Walker

University of Dundee
Dundee, Scotland, UK
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 REHABILITATION AND
RETROFITTING OF AN ARCH
DAM

By
Dr. Avinash C. Singhal
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona, USA

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Overview
Introduction
Alkali-Silica reaction and its effects
Seismic Study
Case Study: Stewart Mountain Dam
 Problems encountered
 Remedial measures
 Analysis
 Post-tensioning of dam structure
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Dam deterioration
Bond within dam structure was not intact
 Caused due to formation of laitance
 Cleaning of horizontal construction surfaces
was not recognized
 13 out of 16 joints unbonded (core-drilling)
Alkali-silica reaction was not recognized
Local seismicity was unknown

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Stewart Mountain Dam
Located fifty miles east of Phoenix, Arizona
on the Salt River
Double curvature arch dam
 64.6 m high
 2.44 m thick across the crest
 10.36 m thick across the base
 177.7 m long along the crest

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