Selection of appropriate shear resistance parameters is critical in the assessment of safety of concrete dams. At first glance, this appears to be a relatively straightforward process. Indeed, many assessments are performed on the basis of rule-of-thumb estimates. In some cases this approach can be appropriate, if these estimates represent lower bound values. It can, however, lead to over-conservatism and the implementation of unnecessary remedial works. There are also cases where the selection of 'typical' lower bound shear resistance values can be unconservative.
This paper provides a general overview of the theoretical concepts of shear strength, and the various failure criteria for defining shear resistance. The paper then discusses the practical methods for determining reliable estimates of the available foundation shear resistance of a concrete dam, and provides a case history to illustrate the procedures.
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