Fracture Energy Tests for Earthquake and Failure Analysis ofConcrete Dams: Collaborative Project of Northwestern University of Wisconsin

本项目是西北大学（NWU）和威斯康星大学（UW）就材料断裂特性和断裂能对混凝土大坝安全边际的影响进行的一项合作研究。这一综合的实验室试验程序和相关的单元间裂缝试件有限元分析将填补大坝安全评价方面的主要知识空白。​理论研究和小规模试验将在北吴大学进行，大规模试验将在西澳大学进行。在整个项目期间，两家机构的研究人员将作为一个团队进行理论开发、断裂特性确定、样品测试、评估和分析。该研究将对混凝土坝裂缝的萌生和扩展做出重要贡献，并将促进对断裂过程和大坝行为的基本认识。

This project is a collaborative research effort between Northwestern University (NWU) and the University of Wisconsin (UW) on the effect of material fracture properties and fracture energy to the safety margins of a concrete dam. This comprehensive laboratory test program and the associated finite element analysis of test specimens with interelement cracks will fill a major knowledge gap concerning evaluation of dam safety. Theoretical investigation and small scale testing will be done at NWU and the large scale testing will be done at UW. Throughout the project period researchers at both institutions will work as a team towards theory development, fracture property determination, tests of specimens, evaluation and analysis. This study will make significant contributions to crack initiation and propagation in concrete dams and will advance the basic understanding of the fracture processes and of dam behavior.