Representative computational mechanical simulation of a penstock reinforced transition block

Resumo

This work describes the numerical-computational mechanical simulation of a hydroelectric plant wa-
ter intake (penstock) transition block, in reinforced concrete, evaluated according to the premises of ABNT NBR

6118/2014 standard. The computational mechanical simulation performed, based on the finite element method

(FEM), discretized the block in three-dimensional tetrahedral solid elements and the reinforcement in three-
dimensional single-line elements. Author based the analysis on loads in service, i.e., safety coefficients have

not been used to reduce the resistance of the material or to increase the self-weight and hydrostatic loads. Author

have carried out a results analysis of the block concrete using the Willam-Warnke criterion of failure. In the rein-
forcement, author have used the safety factor as a function of the resistance of each bar. The results showed the

block has enough structural integrity to not suffer structural failures in service.