Contribution to control uncertainties in numerical modelling of dam performances : an application to an RCC dam
The use of fully probabilistic approaches to account for uncertainties within dam engineering is a recently emerging field on which studies have been mostly done concerning the safety evaluation of dams under service. This thesis arises within this framework as a contribution on moving the process of risk analysis of dams beyond empirical knowledge, applying probabilistic tools on the numerical modelling of a roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam during its construction phase.The work developed here aims to propose a methodology so as to account for risks related to cracking during construction which may compromise the dam’s functional and structural behaviour.In order to do so, emphasis is given to uncertainties related to the material itself (i.e.strength, water-to-cement ratio, among others) as well as to ambient conditions during the construction phase of RCC dams. A thermo-chemo-mechanical model is used to describe theRCC behaviour. Concerning the probabilistic model, two aspects are studied : how the uncertainties related to the input variables are propagated through the model, and what is the influence of their dispersion on the dispersion of the output, assessed by performing a global sensitivity analysis by means of the RBD-FAST method. Also, spatial variability of some input parameters is accounted for through bi-dimensional random fields. Furthermore, a coupling between reliability methods and finite element methods is performed in order to evaluate the cracking potential of each casted RCC layer during construction by means of a cracking density concept. As an important outcome of this applied research,probability curves for cracking density within each casted layer as functions of both age and boundary conditions are predicted, which is believed to be an original contribution of this thesis. The proposed methodology may therefore be seen as a contribution to help engineers understand how uncertainties will affect the dam behaviour during construction and rely on it inthe future to improve and support the design phase of the dam project.