Hossein Rezaee Azariani - Ms in Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad International Campus, MASHHAD, IRAN.
Keivan Bina - Assistant Prof. , Ph.D., Department of Civil Engineering, Khavaran Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, IRAN.

Most of the existing concrete dams,are subjected to cracking.These cracks are caused by various factors and possible expansion of them may reduce the efficiency , failure or instability of concrete dams. Using fracture mechanics as a new method for estimating sustainability and durability of concrete dams,is recommended in scientific publications in worldwide.This study aimed to apply the principles and criterion of linear elastic fracture mechanics discussed about evaluate the propagation of cracks in body and founation of Kalat concrete dam(located in the northern province of Khorasan Razavi),under the worst case loading,including the extraordinary loading case due to earthquake,when the tank is full.For this purpose ZENCRACK_v 7.7,ABAQUS_v610.1 softwares and nonlinear analysis of finite element are used.Then criteria of linear elastic fracture mechanics including stress intensity factor and maximum circumferential stress calculated for existing cracks in various part of body of the dam and foundation and sustainability of initial cracks,position of deviation and extension of them determind.Based on the results obtained,growth of cracks in in all areas related to the both sides of the dam is in a plain shape that only expanded in a longitudinal and transverse axes,but with being away from the both sides and In the center of the dam,crack growth logged from plain shape and expanded in the vertical direction.

Fracture Mechanics, Stress Intensity Factor, Rain-Flow, Toughness, Concrete Dams,Propagation of Cracks