High-velocity discharges, such as those found on spillways or in plunge pools, can force water into open joints or cracks in concrete slabs and rock matrices. When water enters these "crack tops" at high speed, it can generate significant uplift pressures that threaten the stability of the entire structure.

Engineers at major utilities like BC Hydro use these 3D simulations to gain a deeper understanding of flow patterns and performance in water conveyance structures. By creating a "virtual laboratory," they can test non-standard designs and evaluate high-risk projects where accurate modeling is crucial due to potential construction costs and safety risks.

FLOW-3D HYDRO utilizes several advanced features to model these dangerous scenarios:

: Research has shown that the transmission of dynamic pressures into a fissured rock matrix depends on joint location and geometry.