Product
CADAM3D is a user-friendly software based on the gravity method originally developed for one of the world biggest concrete dam owner, Hydro-Quebec, and for Dams and Hydrology of the Quebec Ministry of Environment (Quebec's legislator for dam safety). CADAM3D is fully functional and is intensively used by Hydro-Quebec since 2005. To our knowledge, no other software similar to CADAM3D is available at this time.
If you perform stability analyzes of concrete hydraulic structures, this software will allow you to perform them much faster and more efficiently. If you are interested in this type of software and would like to try CADAM3D for free, please click on the button "Contact us for a free trial of CADAM3D" to send us a message.
CADAM3D allows the modeling of a gravity dam, a gated spillway, an intake or a chute section in 3D. No need to be an expert in Computer Aided Design (CAD). CADAM3D offers a user-friendly environment to help you model a complex hydraulic structure.
In addition to the four available geometric sections, it is possible to add volumes, voids and masses to complete the geometry. Added to this, is the option of including drainage galleries, passive anchor bars and stabilizing backfills.
More detailsCADAM3D allows you to define reservoir loads (operating level and flood level), seismic loads (seismic coefficient and two pseudo-dynamic methods), ice loads (thermal expansion and impact), silt loads, floating debris loads and overtopping loads.
Uplift pressures can be automatically calculated by CADAM3D or be specified by the user. Moreover, the distribution of uplift pressures is updated according to cracking evolution for nonlinear analyses.
The stress analysis for establishing the cracking potential and the stability analysis for calculating the performance indicators are carried out at the level of the lift joints and at the level of the structure-foundation contact.
More detailsCADAM3D automatically generates load combinations according to the selected section. Load combinations are based on USACE 1995 and CDA 2013 guidelines. In addition, the user can add load combinations according to his needs.
Analysis options make it possible to include or not the calculation of cracking and updates of uplift pressures according to the cracking evolution.
Required performance criteria (resultant position, safety factors, stability criteria and allowable stresses) are computed by CADAM3D and compared to target values.
More detailsSeveral tools are available in CADAM3D to allow the user to properly interpret the results of the analyzes and check all the calculation steps. CADAM3D is able to prepare reports from user-selected data. Three spreadsheet reports are available to consult input parameters, calculated loads, and load combinations. These reports can be exported in text format or as MS Excel file.
Three other types of reports are presenting graphically the results. One of them is a report that displays the stability drawings which presents a summary of key results (cracking, stresses, forces and moments, safety factors). The second report displays the stress and uplift pressures distributions for a lift joint and a load combination. The last report presents graphically the evolution of key results according to an incrementally varying parameter (incremental analysis).
More details
Geometry of the structure is defined using user-friendly modeling tools.
Additional voids or volumes can be specified to complete the modeling of the structure.
Concentrated masses can be used to add/subtract vertical forces in static analyses and inertia forces in seismic analyses.
Definition of the tensile, compressive and shear strengths of lift joints planes and concrete-rock contact.
Specification of the elevation, inclination, and material properties of analysed planes (lift joints).
Cracking of lift joints may be applied as initial condition.
Galleries allow modeling of drainage systems according to CDA 2013 and USACE 1995 guidelines.
Passive anchors and/or rebars offer tensile, compressive and shear resistance
(under development).
CADAM3D can model an upstream backfill only for the gravity dam section and a downstream backfill for both the gravity dam and the intake section.
Upstream and downstream reservoir levels under normal operating conditions or flood, ice loads (thermal expansion and dynamic impacts), floating debris, crest submersion and silt pressure.
The distribution and intensity of uplift pressures are defined according to the guidelines CDA 2013 and USACE 1995. The uplift pressures can also be defined by the user.
Horizontal and vertical forces can be defined by the user and applied anywhere.
Vertical or inclined post-tension cables can be installed anywhere.
Specification of horizontal and vertical peak accelerations (for stress analysis) and sustained accelerations (for stability analysis). Westergaard added masses are used to simulate the hydrodynamic effects of the reservoir.
A pseudo-dynamic analysis is based on the spectral method. It is conceptually similar to a pseudo-static analysis, except that it recognises the dynamic amplification caused by the flexibility of the dam-foundation-reservoir system along the height of the structure.
Load combinations are generated automatically according to the type of section selected. The user may also define additional load combinations.
Specification of the concrete tensile strength for initiation and propagation of cracks, dynamic increase in tensile strength can be introduced.
Influence of analysis type (static, seismic or post-seismic) on the evolution of uplift pressures in cracked conditions, performance criteria (allowable stresses, required safety factors and stability criteria).
This spreadsheet report shows the complete model input data. The user can choose the items to be displayed. The report can be saved in text format or exported as an MS Excel file. In addition, the report can be printed directly.
This spreadsheet report shows all the loads that were computed by CADAM3D. The user can choose the items to be displayed. The report can be saved in text format or exported as an MS Excel file. In addition, the report can be printed directly.
This spreadsheet report shows all the load combinations results that were computed by CADAM3D. The user can choose the items to be displayed. The report can be saved in text format or exported as an MS Excel file. In addition, the report can be printed directly.
CADAM3D generates two sets of drawings for each load combination. The first drawing presents the numerical values of the stress analysis (cracking, normal stresses and uplift pressure at both ends of lift joints). The second drawing presents the results of the stability analysis (resulting forces (normal, shear, uplift, etc.) and safety factors).
The user can consult the distribution of stresses graphically by selecting a lift joint and a load combination from the drop-down list. CADAM3D then displays the distribution of normal stresses (black line), the distribution of the uplift pressure (blue line), the upstream and downstream cracks (red line) and finally the resultant generated by the vector sum of the normal and shear loads (arrow).
The results of the incremental analysis are displayed graphically. The user can select the parameters to be displayed. The Copy Values to Clipboard button is used to transfer numerical values into a text editor or to a spreadsheet software such as MS Excel.
