Uplift pressure is an important influence factor to the stability of gravity dam foundation. The method for simulating the uplift pressure in the model test on anti sliding stability of gravity dam is studied by mechanical analysis, theoretical derivation and numerical simulation. According to the loading property of gravity dam, a new test method for equivalent simulating uplift pressure by equivalent load and the calculation formulas of equivalent load are presented in this paper. In the research, similarity theory is used to deduce the similarity relations between the equivalent model and the actual model. Furthermore, a gravity dam on the homogeneous foundation is analyzed numerically. Through comparison between the structural characters of equivalent model and actual model, the equivalence and rationality of the equivalent simulation method are further verified. It is concluded that the equivalent simulating method for uplift pressure can be used in the model test on anti sliding stability of gravity dam.
