A Numerical Study on the Performance of Traditional Concrete and Three-Dimensional Printed Concrete Dams Under the Boulder Impact

This study investigates the behavior of traditional concrete dams and 3D-printed concrete dams (3DPC) under the impact of boulders. To achieve this objective, a numerical analysis was conducted on flat dams utilizing the Finite Element Method (FEM). Parametric studies were carried out by varying boulder diameter and velocity to define the global performance of the flat dam. The research results, including impact pressure and elastic strain energy, were utilized to evaluate and compare the performance of both dam types. The results of the study demonstrate that 3DPC dams outperform traditional concrete dams in terms of impact force and strain energy. These results can significantly contribute to the development of more effective and efficient dam structures capable of withstanding the impact of boulders.