Earthquake response of two repaired buildings damaged in past seismic shaking

Two reinforced concrete buildings which suffered architectural and minor structural damage during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, were shaken again by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. Their well recorded responses are analyzed employing a system identification technique. Comparison of the vibration parameters inferred from analyses of the Whittier earthquake response to the corresponding parameters inferred from dynamic response data before, during and after the San Fernando earthquake verify the adequacy of the repairs made on the structures. Also, comparison of the recorded dynamic responses with the design code requirements provides supporting evidence for the adequacy of current design practices.     

Numerical investigation of the response of the Yele rockfill dam during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

In this paper the seismic response of a well-documented Chinese rockfill dam, Yele dam, is simulated and investigated employing the dynamic hydro-mechanically (HM) coupled finite element (FE) method. The objective of the study is to firstly validate the numerical model for static and dynamic analyses of rockfill dams against the unique monitoring data on the Yele dam recorded before and during the Wenchuan earthquake. The initial stress state of the dynamic analysis is reproduced by simulating the geological history of the dam foundation, the dam construction and the reservoir impounding. Subsequently, the predicted seismic response of the Yele dam is analysed, in terms of the deformed shape, crest settlements and acceleration distribution pattern, in order to understand its seismic behaviour, assess its seismic safety and provide indication for the application of any potential reinforcement measures. The results show that the predicted seismic deformation of the Yele dam is in agreement with field observations that suggested that the dam operated safely during the Wenchuan earthquake. Finally, parametric studies are conducted to explore the impact of two factors on the seismic response of rockfill dams, i.e. the permeability of materials comprising the dam body and the vertical ground motion.     

Simulation of three-dimensional strong ground motions along principal axes,San Fernando earthquake

Power spectral density which describes frequency content is considered one of the most significant properties to be taken into account when generating ground motions through the use of stochastic processes. Using a smoothed and normalized Fourier amplitude spectrum, frequency content for components of motion along a set of principal axes is estimated. Fourier amplitude spectra obtained by this moving-window technique are presented which show the time dependency of frequency content for motions produced by the San Fernando earthquake of 9 February 1971. A mathematical model to simulate ground motion processes is proposed for which both the intensity and frequency content are non-stationary. Using this mathematical model with parameter characteristics along principal axes similar to those of the motions recorded during the San Fernando earthquake, three-dimensional ground motions are synthetically generated. The properties of the simulated motions show general characteristics similar to the characteristics observed in real accelerograms. The suggested model is considered adequate for engineering purposes.     

Seismic stability of concrete gravity dams strengthened by rockfill buttressing

Rockfill buttressing resting on the downstream face of masonry or concrete gravity dam is often considered as a strengthening method to improve the stability of existing dam for hydrostatic and seismic loads. Simplified methods for seismic stability analysis of composite concrete-rockfill dams are discussed. Numerical analyses are performed using a nonlinear rockfill model and nonlinear dam-rockfill interface behavior to investigate the effects of backfill on dynamic response of composite dams. A typical 35 m concrete gravity dam, strengthened by rockfill buttressing is considered. The results of analyses confirm that backfill can improve the seismic stability of gravity dams by exerting pressure on the dam in opposition to hydrostatic loads. According to numerical analyses results, the backfill pressures vary during earthquake base excitations and the inertia forces of the backfill are the main source for those variations. It is also shown that significant passive (or active) pressure cannot develop in composite dams with a finite backfill width. A simplified model is also proposed for dynamic analysis of composite dam by replacing the backfill with by a series of vertical cantilever shear beams connected to each other and to the dam by flexible links.     

Effects of near-fault and far-fault ground motions on nonlinear dynamic response and seismic damage of concrete gravity dams

As the forward directivity and fling effect characteristics of the near-fault ground motions, seismic response of structures in the near field of a rupturing fault can be significantly different from those observed in the far field. The unique characteristics of the near-fault ground motions can cause considerable damage during an earthquake. This paper presents results of a study aimed at evaluating the near-fault and far-fault ground motion effects on nonlinear dynamic response and seismic damage of concrete gravity dams including dam-reservoir-foundation interaction. For this purpose, 10 as-recorded earthquake records which display ground motions with an apparent velocity pulse are selected to represent the near-fault ground motion characteristics. The earthquake ground motions recorded at the same site from other events that the epicenter far away from the site are employed as the far-fault ground motions. The Koyna gravity dam, which is selected as a numerical application, is subjected to a set of as-recorded near-fault and far-fault strong ground motion records. The Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model including the strain hardening or softening behavior is employed in nonlinear analysis. Nonlinear dynamic response and seismic damage analyses of the selected concrete dam subjected to both near-fault and far-fault ground motions are performed. Both local and global damage indices are established as the response parameters. The results obtained from the analyses of the dam subjected to each fault effect are compared with each other. It is seen from the analysis results that the near-fault ground motions, which have significant influence on the dynamic response of dam–reservoir–foundation systems, have the potential to cause more severe damage to the dam body than far-fault ground motions.     

汶川大地震中土坝破坏程度与坝体几何形状的关系分析

调查、搜集和研究了汶川地震中被评定为高危以上险情的147座小型水库土坝的地震破坏情况,给出了高危以上险情土坝的地震破坏程度划分为中等破坏、严重破坏和极严重破坏三个等级的原则和标准,以及土坝的地震破坏程度与地震烈度、土坝的宽高比、上游坡比、坝高的经验关系表,可发现:土坝的几何形状对其破坏程度起着重要的作用;对于6～8度地震烈度区,土坝的宽高比越小,或上游坡比越小,或坝体越高,则土坝的破坏程度越严重;对于9度以上地震烈度区,土坝通常发生极严重破坏。依据高危以上险情土坝的地震反应分析结果,给出了土坝地震破坏程度与土坝宽高比、坝高、土坝上游坡比及坝顶加速度放大系数、坝体最大动剪应力的经验关系曲线,发现在相同的地震烈度水平下,土坝的宽高比越小,或上游坡比越小,或坝高越大,且坝顶加速度放大系数越大或坝体最大动剪应力越大,则其地震破坏程度越严重;坝体最大动剪应力超过30kPa的土坝,通常发生严重或极严重破坏,坝体最大动剪应力大于100kPa的土坝,通常发生极严重破坏;土坝离发震断层越远,则其坝顶加速度放大系数越大。本文给出的高危以上险情土坝的地震破坏程度与坝体几何形状的经验关系,可为今后土坝抗震设计提供参考依据。     

The effects of strong motion duration on the dynamic response and accumulated damage of concrete gravity dams

Strong motion duration is one of the challenging characteristics of ground motion, which affects the cumulative damage of structures significantly. Many researchers have conducted investigations related to the effects of strong motion duration on the response of building structures. However, the corresponding studies of concrete gravity dams are limited. In this paper, the effects of strong motion duration on the accumulated damage of concrete gravity dams are investigated. A Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model including the strain hardening or softening behavior is selected for the concrete material. This model is used to evaluate the nonlinear dynamic response and seismic damage process of Koyna dam during 1976 Koyna earthquake. Subsequently, the damage analyses of Koyna dam subjected to earthquake motions with different strong motion durations are performed. 20 as-recorded accelerograms, which are modified to match a 5% damped target spectrum, are considered in this study. Strong motion durations are obtained based on the definition of significant duration. According to the characteristics of the cracking damage development, both local and global damage indices are established as the response parameters. The results show that strong motion duration is positively correlated to the accumulated damage for events with similar response spectrum, and has significant influence on the cumulative damage of the dam. Longer duration will lead to greater accumulation damage to which aseismic design of the dam should be given attention.     

Seismic analysis of skewed highway bridges with intermediate supports

Due to the damage suffered by many skewed highway bridges during the San Fernando earthquake, 1971, a study is made on the dynamic response of this type of bridge. Using a beam model capable of flexural and torsional deformations, the mode shapes and frequency equations are presented. Due to the skewness of the intermediate supports, coupled flexural and torsional vibrations are shown to be excited by the vertical component of ground motion An analysis is carried out for the Foothill Boulevard Undercrossing, S.E. Bridge in the San Fernando Valley, California which suffered damage to the intermediate supports. The results of the analysis correlate well with the observed damage pattern of the bridge.     

Observations and estimation of long-period strong ground motion in the los angeles basin

While the accurate estimation of ground-motion amplitudes across the entire frequency band of engineering interest is not possible at the present time, the excitation and propagation of long-period strong-ground motion can be understood with existing seismological methodology. In the Los Angeles Basin, the long-period strong ground motion excited by the San Fernando earthquake is dominated by the presence of surface waves, whose gross amplitude and frequency content are easily attributable to physical properties of the earthquake source and source-station propagation paths. Observed measures of the long-period strong ground motion of the Kern County earthquake relative to the San Fernando earthquake at two sites in the Los Angeles Basin which recorded both shocks can be predicted with considerable accuracy by a simple earthquake source model. This source model is extrapolated to represent the maximum credible earthquake likely to affect the Los Angeles area, taken to be a repeat of the Fort Tejon (1857) earthquake along the San Andreas fault. The measures of long-period strong ground motion in the Los Angeles Basin estimated for it agree well with the comparable measures of Earthquake A-2, intended to represent the same situation. For the purpose of aseismic design of long-period structures, Earthquake A-2 is a reasonable, if not all inclusive, estimate of the long-period strong ground motion in the Los Angeles Basin generated by a magnitude 8+ earthquake along the San Andreas fault north and east of Los Angeles.     

Earthquake response of a steel frame building

A study has been made of the response, during the San Fernando earthquake 9 February 1971, of the nine-storey steel frame Building 180, located at the California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena. The analysis throws light on the actual dynamical properties of the building during the earthquake, and also demonstrates that it is possible, when the ground motion is specified, to make accurate predictions of building motions during moderate earthquakes by using a linear viscously damped model. Methods of evaluating the lower mode periods and damping ratios from the earthquake records are described and the values obtained are compared with results from dynamic testing before and after the earthquake and with the periods computed from computer models of the building. Although no structural damage occurred and computed stresses in the steel frame were less than yield stresses, the periods measured by an ambient vibration test after the earthquake were of the order of 10 per cent higher than the pre-earthquake values. The maximum periods during the earthquake were found to be about 30 per cent higher than the post-earthquake periods.     

An investigation into the seismic behaviour of dams using dynamic centrifuge modelling

Dynamic response of dams is significantly influenced by foundation stiffness and dam-foundation interaction. This in turn, significantly effects the generation of hydrodynamic pressures on upstream face of a concrete dam due to inertia of reservoir water. This paper aims at investigating the dynamic response of dams on soil foundation using dynamic centrifuge modelling technique. From a series of centrifuge tests performed on model dams with varying stiffness and foundation conditions, significant co-relation was observed between the dynamic response of dams and the hydrodynamic pressures developed on their upstream faces. The vertical bearing pressures exerted by the concrete dam during shaking were measured using miniature earth pressure cells. These reveal the dynamic changes of earth pressures and changes in rocking behaviour of the concrete dam as the earthquake loading progresses. Pore water pressures were measured below the dam and in the free-field below the reservoir. Analysis of this data provides insights into the cyclic shear stresses and strains generated below concrete dams during earthquakes. In addition, the sliding and rocking movement of the dam and its settlement into the soil below are discussed.     

汶川8.0级地震水坝震害调查

“5．12”汶川地震中水坝损毁严重,造成了巨大的经济损失。震后对69座溃坝险情和310座高危险情水库水坝进行了系统的调查,典型震害现象包括坝体裂缝、塌陷、滑坡、渗漏、启闭设施损坏和其他附属设施的损毁等。文中给出了不同烈度区的水坝震害分布,并对地震中水坝的震害现象做了初步总结和分析。     

汶川地震震损水库土坝动力反应与几何坝形的经验关系

在5·12汶川地震后的四川省水库土坝震害调查成果的基础上,选取汶川地震中受损的有完整资料的96座水库土坝为研究对象,应用等效线性模型对土坝进行了二维动力反应分析。选择3条有代表性的汶川地震实测记录,以三水准峰值加速度输入,得到土坝的动力反应（放大系数、最大动剪应力）与土坝几何形状（宽高比、上游坡比、坝高）间的经验关系。结果表明,土坝放大系数和最大动剪应力随着宽高比和上游坡比的增大而减小,随着坝高的增大而增大;输入波的频谱和峰值强度均对土坝动力反应与其几何形状的经验关系有重要影响。     

Breach of a tailings dam in the 2011 earthquake in Japan

The eastern region of the northern part of Japanese mainland has been known historically as an area of mines producing gold and silver. When the extraordinarily strong earthquake rocked the eastern part of the Japanese mainland on March 11, 2011, there were more than 20 old and new dams retaining tailings from many mines.Out of these, three dams suffered breach due to liquefaction of tailings materials and released a large amount of slime, bringing about damage to farmlands and houses downstream. Of particular interest was Kayakari dam at Ohya mine that failed and Takasega-mori dam in its vicinity that did not, although they were equally subjected to strong shaking.In this paper features of these two dams in the design and construction, and damage or non-damage during the earthquake will be described, together with the geotechnical investigations and some analyses that were conducted after the earthquake.     

Seismic fragility assessment of concrete gravity dams

Many concrete gravity dams have been in service for over 50 years, and over this period important advances in the methodologies for evaluation of natural phenomena hazards have caused the design‐basis events for these dams to be revised upwards. Older existing dams may fail to meet revised safety criteria and structural rehabilitation to meet such criteria may be costly and difficult. Fragility assessment provides a tool for rational safety evaluation of existing facilities and decision‐making by using a probabilistic framework to model sources of uncertainty that may impact dam performance. This paper presents a methodology for developing fragilities of concrete gravity dams to assess their performance against seismic hazards. The methodology is illustrated using the Bluestone Dam on the New River in West Virginia, which was designed in the late 1930s. The seismic fragility assessment indicated that sliding along the dam–foundation interface is likely if the dam were to be subjected to an earthquake with a magnitude of the maximum credible earthquake (MCE) specified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Moreover, there will likely be tensile cracking at the neck of the dam at this level of seismic excitation. However, loss of control of the reservoir is unlikely. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The earthquake experience at koyna dam and stresses in concrete gravity dams

A number of questions concerning the response of concrete gravity dams to earthquakes, motivated by the structural damage caused to Koyna Dam, which has an unconventional cross section, by the December 1967 Koyna earthquake, are considered in this work. The study is not restricted to the earthquake experience at Koyna Dam, but includes consideration of a dam with a typical section and another earthquake motion having similar intensity but different peak acceleration and frequency characteristics compared to the Koyna ground motion. The earthquake response in a number of cases is analysed by the finite element method and results are presented. These results lead to a number of conclusions. Significant tensile stresses must have developed in Koyna Dam during the Koyna earthquake and similar stresses would have developed even in typical gravity dam sections. The Koyna ground motion is relatively more severe, compared to California earthquakes of similar intensity, on concrete gravity dams. The extra concrete mass near the crest of a gravity dam to support the roadway, etc. is responsible for causing a significant part of the critical tensile stresses; attention should therefore be given to developing lightweight supporting systems.     

Two-dimensional earthquake vibrations in sedimentary basins – SH waves

In this paper, long- and short-period vibrations in sedimentary basins are studied. First, two-dimensional, long-period vibrations of deep semi-circular basins for excitation by earthquake faults, which can be inside or outside the basin, are analyzed. Second, recurring intermediate peak frequencies of Fourier-spectrum amplitudes of recorded accelerations along the east–west axis of the San Fernando Valley during the 1994 Northridge, California earthquake are reviewed. It is shown that these intermediate frequencies cannot be associated with vibrations of the entire San Fernando basin because the frequency range of typical strong-motion recordings (0.04 to 15.0 s) is too narrow to include the long-period vibration of the whole basin. These intermediate vibrations are consistent with Kanai׳s one-dimensional models consisting of parallel layers and excited by vertically incident shear waves.     

APPLICATION OF BOUNDARY ELEMENT ANALYSIS FOR MULTIPLE SEISMIC CRACKING IN CONCRETE GRAVITY DAMS

The previously developed two-dimensional boundary element procedure for analysing the propagation of a single discrete crack is extended to simultaneous multiple cracking in concrete gravity dams. A brief discussion of the generalized methodology is presented and the validity of the extended procedure is verified by performing a fracture analysis of the Fongman dam and comparing the predicted rupture process with the available experimental results. The fracture response of the Koyna dam is then studied extensively under the Koyna earthquake. Both single and multiple cracking models are employed to investigate the fracture process as well as final rupture in the dam. Similar final damage involving complete separation of the crest block of the dam is predicted, irrespective of whether single or multiple crack propagation models are employed. In relation to the phenomenon of hydrodynamic uplift pressure within propagating cracks, openings of the crack on the upstream face of the dam are examined in particular. The results indicate that this phenomenon is not expected to be significant during the crack development phase, and hence unlikely to affect the final rupture characteristics of dams undergoing strong earthquake excitation.     

Seismic upgrade of hydraulic fill dam by buttressing

The vulnerability of hydraulic fill dams under strong earthquake shaking has long been recognized. When located in areas of high seismic hazard, seismic upgrading of these types of dams is often required to meet current dam safety standards. Selection of an appropriate design concept for seismic upgrading of such dams requires careful consideration of seismically induced deformations when the hydraulic fill is to remain as part of the dam. This paper presents a case history of the seismic upgrade of Butt Valley Dam, a hydraulic fill dam located in Northern California. The dam was strengthened to withstand the Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) by buttressing of its upstream and downstream slopes. The paper discusses the evaluation of alternatives to upgrade the dam, the design criteria, and the design and analysis of the seismic upgrade. It is shown that a conservative and robust design was developed based on well-established engineering principles and multiple lines of defense, and sound use of analysis procedures including finite-difference non-linear dynamic deformation analyses.     

Two-phase elasto-plastic seismic response of earth dams: applications

The model presented in the companion paper is validated in both the linear and nonlinear cases under steady-state single frequency harmonic and transient ground motions. The crest acceleration responses of the Santa Felicia earth dam subjected to the 1971 San Fernando earthquake and of the Long Valley earth dam subjected to the strongest of the 1980 Mammoth Lake earthquakes are computed and compared with the motions recorded at the site. Acceleration time histories for the solid and fluid phases in both horizontal and vertical directions, as well as stress-strain and pore water pressure-strain time histories for points along the height of the dam are presented. The ability of the model to simulate the occurrence of liquefaction in a dam is also demonstrated.