Abstract: One of the most serious problems in the design and construction of the Xiangjiaba Hydraulic Electricity Second Phase Project is the sliding stability of the dam foundation, which is critical to the safe operation of the entire pivot. The sliding stability is numerically analyzed using the strength reduction method for a representative section under the pool level conditions. The nonconvergence and the connection of the plastic zones are used in the analysis as the instability criteria. The analysis results indicate that a factor of safety of 3.62 using the nonconvergence criterion and a factor of safety of 3.2 using the connection of plastic zones are obtained, respectively. If the current strength parameters are used in the analysis, the characteristics displacements at crest, heel and toe are point to the downstream side. A sliding tendency can be found under the current conditions.[JP]

Key words: Dam Foundation Stability, Strength Reduction Method, StressSeepage Coupled Analysis, Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station