A Paradigm Shift in Dam Engineering: Universal Failure Prediction Using the Breaking Stress Criterion

Abstract

Predicting when and how materials fail continues to be a central challenge in engineering, especially in the context of massive infrastructure such as dams, where failure can result in catastrophic outcomes. Conventional design codes and empirical failure models often misrepresent structural capacity, creating uncertainty in both safety and performance. In this work, the Breaking Stress Criterion—a recently formulated, single-parameter failure principle that extends classical elasticity—has been employed to assess dam stability. The criterion integrates external loads with internal stress states by defining failure through the peak internal breaking stress, represented geometrically as a spherical surface in principal stress space. To evaluate this, advanced finite-element simulations were conducted in ABAQUS, where the dam was modeled with higher-order continuum elements under realistic hydrostatic pressures and boundary conditions. The analysis revealed that boundary conditions play a decisive role in shaping stress concentrations and determining failure zones, highlighting the limitations of relying solely on Saint-Venant’s assumptions. The approach successfully linked applied loads to internal breaking stresses, with failure predicted at a surface pressure of 1.5 MPa corresponding to a breaking stress of 160 MPa. These results reinforce the Breaking Stress Criterion as a robust and broadly applicable measure of failure for isotropic, homogeneous, and noncompressible materials, providing engineers with a reliable framework for designing dam structures that are safer, more resilient, and cost-effective.