Hydraulic concrete structures, such as high dams, operate under elevated water pressure and complex stress fields, where crack propagation at the dam heel is a critical determinant of load-bearing capacity. This study investigates the fracture behavior of the concrete-rock interface under varying water pressures (0–4 MPa) through four-point shear tests, with mode mixity ratios ranging from 0.398 to 2.411. Digital image correlation was employed to characterize crack extension and morphology. The results demonstrate that high-pressure water significantly modifies crack propagation patterns. The influence of water pressure on fracture parameters intensifies as the mode mixity ratio increases; conversely, the impact of the mixity ratio on fracture behavior diminishes at higher water pressures. Based on these findings, empirical models were developed to predict fracture loads and deformations. Furthermore, prediction models for Mode I and Mode II stress intensity factors and an initial cracking fracture criterion are proposed, providing a robust theoretical framework for fracture mechanics analysis in extra-high dam heels.
Tian et al. (2026) studied this question.