Abstract: SIMP (solid isotropic microstructures with penalization) interpolation model and RAMP (rational approximation of material properties) interpolation model are employed to optimize the section of entity gravity dam. The optimization is carried out with ABAQUS as platform based on variable density method. Results suggest that by SIMP method, a large amount of cavities occur in the dam section, which requires many iterative times (mostly up to 50); whereas by RAMP model, the dam section conforms with the shape of the gravity dam and the number of iteration is small, indicating that the RAMP method is more suitable. Furthermore, the downstream of optimal model is fitted by straight line and curve, and static analysis is carried out. Results reveal that the optimized model accords with the stress and stability indexes of entity gravity dam. Curved downstream dam shape is better than straight line in practical application, because the former could ease the stress concentration zone better than straight line does.

Key words: entity gravity dam, variable density method, SIMP interpolation model, RAMP interpolation model, topology optimization