It is incumbent on engineers to use the best methods available for the analysis of structures. Linear elastic finite element analyses are today routine, but, in the case of mass concrete structures, such as concrete dams, tensile cracking of the concrete is almost unavoidable. A s a consequence, programs developed for the analysis of arch dams should include a capability to redistribute stresses after concrete cracking.

Furthermore, to satisfy modern standards on the safety of dams it should be the practice to check whether the structure would support the applied loads should all the tensile strength vanish. It is necessary to know if relief cracks are stable. Observations on actual structures show that cracking is more limited than that predicted by a 'no-tension' analysis, thus indicating that the structure has some tensile strength.

As the generation of data for a three dimensional analysis of an arch dam would be a formidable task if prepared manually, the element descriptions and nodal coordinates, together with the usual static loads, are generated automatically. In addition, the finite element mesh can be plotted. The programs are linked to post-processor routines which enable all stresses and displacements to be output at selected locations.

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