Effects of concrete cracking on the earthquake response of gravity dams

Tensile stresses exceeding the tensile strength of concrete can develop in concrete dams subjected to earthquake ground motion. This study examines the earthquake response of gravity dams including tensile cracking of the concrete. The interaction between the dam and compressible water is included in the analysis using a numerical procedure for computing the non-linear dynamic response of fluid-structure systems. The crack band theory is used to model tensile cracking with modifications to allow for the large finite elements necessary for dam analysis. The earthquake response of a typical gravity dam monolith shows that concrete cracking is an important non-linear phenomenon. Cracking is concentrated near the base of the dam and near the discontinuities in the face slope. The extensive cracking, which develops due to ground motion typical of maximum credible earthquakes, may affect the stability of dams during and after strong earthquakes.     

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BASE SLIDING RESPONSE OF RIGID CONCRETE GRAVITY DAMS TO DYNAMIC LOADING

A series of dynamic slip tests on a concrete gravity dam model was conducted on a shaking table. The aim of the experiments was to investigate the dynamically induced sliding and overturning characteristics of a typical low height gravity dam monolith cracked at its base. Tests indicated that downstream sliding is the main instability that could be expected during an earthquake. Dynamic, finite element analyses of the experimental model, using a Lagrangian contact surface algorithm, were also performed. A comparison of the experimental and analytical responses indicated that the seismically induced slip can be predicted reasonably by such a contact surface algorithm implemented in a standard finite element package. A comparison of observed displacements with Newmark's sliding block displacements indicated that a conservative estimate of seismic induced slip of a gravity dam could be obtained by using Newmark's sliding block concept, generally adopted for earth dams and embankments.     

Seismic behaviour of cracked concrete gravity dams

A finite element model of incremental displacement constraint equations (IDCE), based on an existing node‐to‐surface concept, is implemented to deal with dynamic contact surfaces in the seismic behaviour analysis of cracked concrete gravity dams. After verification for sliding, rocking and impact, the IDCE model is applied to study the seismic responses of concrete gravity dams with different profiles and crack locations for a variety of parameters, such as coefficient of friction, water level and type of earthquake, as well as impact damping based on the concept of coefficient of restitution. It is revealed that cracked concrete gravity dams can experience not only sliding and rocking modes, but also the drifting mode in some cases of crack either at the base or at a height. Downstream sliding is normally accompanied by rocking, especially for the cases of crack at a height. Due to rocking and drifting, a cracked dam may still acquire a certain amount of residual sliding even if the effective coefficient of friction is relatively high. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking table study of concrete gravity dam monoliths

A series of shaking table tests was performed on three small-scale models of a monolith of a concrete gravity dam in order to simulate earthquake shaking. The purpose of the tests was to examine the nature of crack formation in a gravity dam and the stability of the dam in the presence of cracks. No failures occurred even though the levels of shaking employed were unrealistically high. The good performance owed to the development of crack profiles which had favourable orientations to resist sliding failures in each case. However, the development of an unfavourable crack profile, which cannot be ruled out, and the possibility of water intrusion into open cracks, something not included in the experiments, could lead to failure under significantly lower levels of excitation than those employed.     

An experimental investigation into earthquake-induced failure of medium to low height concrete gravity dams

A suitable model material was developed to construct scaled models of a 30 m high prototype concrete gravity dam monolith and the experimental technique perfected for testing the models, till failure, on the EPSRC earthquake simulator at Bristol University. A series of shaking table tests was performed with the aim of assessing the possible failure mechanisms of medium to low height dams under simple motions and simulated earthquakes. Tests were conducted with and without the presence of hydrostatic pressure. The hydrodynamic pressure was simulated using Westergaard's added mass approach. Base cracking was observed to be the main failure mechanism and a tendency of the models to slide and rock after the full crack development at the interface was also observed in some cases.     

Non-linear seismic response of arch dams

An experimental study of non-linear mechanisms that may occur during intense seismic response of arch dams is described in this paper. The presentation deals with three types of non-linearity that were observed during shaking table model studies: monolith joint opening, cantilever cracking, and reservoir cavitation at the dam face. The monolith joint opening phenomenon was represented by a segmental arch ring model that simulated a horizontal slice of a prototype dam. The cantilever cracking and reservoir cavitation mechanisms were studied using a model gravity dam section. The principal conclusion of the investigation was that shaking table experiments provide a practical means of studying the non-linear earthquake response of concrete arch dams, including their actual failure mechanisms.     

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 reservoir bottom absorption and dam-water-foundation rock interaction on frequency response functions for concrete gravity dams

The linear response of an idealized concrete gravity dam monolith to harmonic horizontal or vertical ground motion is presented for a range of the important system parameters that characterize the properties of the dam, foundation rock, impounded water and reservoir bottom materials. Based on these frequency response functions, the effects of alluvium and sediments at the reservoir bottom on the response of the dam, including its interaction with the impounded water and foundation rock, are investigated. It is shown that the partial absorption of hydrodynamic pressure waves by the reservoir bottom materials has an important effect on the dynamic response of concrete gravity dams.     

Seismic assessment of concrete gravity dams using capacity estimation and damage indexes

A new concept to determine state of the damage in concrete gravity dams is introduced. The Pine Flat concrete gravity dam has been selected for the purpose of the analysis and its structural capacity, assuming no sliding plane and rigid foundation, has been estimated using the two well‐known methods: nonlinear static pushover (SPO) and incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). With the use of these two methods, performance and various limit states of the dam have been determined, and three damage indexes have been proposed on the basis of the comparison of seismic demands and the dam's capacity. It is concluded that the SPO and IDA can be effectively used to develop indexes for seismic performance evaluation and damage assessment of concrete gravity dams. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of the relationship of seismic intensity measures and the accumulation of damage on concrete gravity dams using incremental dynamic analysis

Nonlinear analysis tools are gaining prominence for the design and evaluation of concrete gravity dams. The performance limits of concrete gravity dams within the framework of performance based design are challenging to determine in comparison to those used for the assessments based on linear elastic analyses. The uncertainty in quantifying the behavior of these systems and the strong dependence of the behavior on the ground motion play an important role. The purpose of the study is to quantify the damage levels on a representative monolith using incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). For this purpose, the constitutive model utilized was calibrated first to the existing experimental results to verify the ability of the utilized cracking model to simulate the crack propagation process. Next, the relation between the damage levels on the monolith and the ground motion characteristics was investigated. The results of the conducted IDA showed that the engineering demand parameters (EDP) such as the crest displacement and acceleration showed weak correlation with the damage states. The spectral velocity and the peak ground acceleration were determined to be better predictors for the damage on the monolith. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Earthquake response of concrete arch dams: a plastic–damage approach

There are several alternatives to evaluate seismic damage‐cracking behavior of concrete arch dams, among which damage theory is the most popular. A more recent option introduced for this purpose is plastic–damage (PD) approach. In this study, a special finite element program coded in 3‐D space is developed on the basis of a well‐established PD model successfully applied to gravity dams in 2‐D plane stress state. The model originally proposed by Lee and Fenves in 1998 relies on isotropic damaged elasticity in combination with isotropic tensile and compressive plasticity to capture inelastic behaviors of concrete in cyclic or dynamic loadings. The present implementation is based on the rate‐dependent version of the model, including large crack opening/closing possibilities. Moreover, with utilizing the Hilber–Hughes–Taylor time integration scheme, an incremental–iterative solution strategy is detailed for the coupled dam–reservoir equations while the damage–dependent damping stress is included. The program is initially validated, and then, it is employed for the main analyses of the Koyna gravity dam in a 3‐D modeling as well as a typical concrete arch dam. The former is a major verification for the further examination on the arch dam. The application of the PD model to an arch dam is more challenging because the governing stress condition is multiaxial, causing shear damage to become more important than uniaxial states dominated in gravity dams. In fact, the softening and strength loss in compression for the damaged regions under multiaxial cyclic loadings affect its seismic safety. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Earthquake analysis of concrete gravity dams including base sliding

A numerical method, the hybrid frequency-time domain (HFTD) procedure, is used to compute the earthquake response of concrete gravity dams, including sliding along the interface between the dam base and the foundation rock. The solution procedure accounts for the non-linear base sliding behaviour and the frequency-dependent response of the impounded water and flexible foundation rock. A Coulomb friction model represents the force-displacement relationship for sliding at the base interface. Using the solution procedure, an analysis of a typical dam (122 m high) shows that base sliding will occur during a moderate earthquake but the sliding displacement will be a tolerable amount when dam-foundation rock interaction is considered.     

Seismic performance sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of gravity dams

Uncertainties in structural engineering are often arising from the modeling assumptions and errors, or from variability in input loadings. A practical approach for dealing with them is to perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in the framework of stochastic and probabilistic methods. These analyses can be statically and dynamically performed through nonlinear static pushover and IDA techniques, respectively. Of the existing structures, concrete gravity dams are infrastructures which may encounter many uncertainties. In this research, probabilistic analysis of the seismic performance of gravity dams is presented. The main characteristics of the nonlinear tensile behavior of mass concrete, along with the intensity of earthquake excitations are considered as random variables in the probabilistic analysis. Using the tallest non‐overflow monolith of the Pine Flat gravity dam as a case study, its response under static and dynamic situations is reliably examined utilizing different combinations of parameters in the material and the seismic loading. The sensitivity analysis reveals the relative importance of each parameter independently. It will be shown that the undamaged modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of mass concrete have more significant roles on the seismic resistance of the dam than the ultimate inelastic tensile strain. In order to propagate the parametric uncertainty to the actual seismic performance of the dam, probabilistic simulation methods such as Monte Carlo simulation with Latin hypercube sampling, and approximate moment estimation techniques will be used. The final results illustrate the possibility of using a mean‐parameter dam model to estimate the mean seismic performance of the dam. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

超强地震作用下深厚覆盖层场地重力坝抗震安全研究

本文通过成层状地基地震动输入计算方法得到覆盖层边界自由场运动,采用粘弹性边界,考虑地基辐射阻尼效应及坝体和地基的接触非线性,针对强震区深厚覆盖层场地重力坝开展线性和非线性动力时程分析研究,结合需求能力比DCR评估其抗震性能。由线弹性动力时程分析可知,在运行基准地震OBE作用下,重力坝坝体应力均在允许范围内,其抗滑稳定安全系数不能满足要求;由非线性动力分析可知,在OBE和最大设计地震MDE作用下,重力坝发生较大滑动位移。通过在重力坝坝体下游坝后回填土加强重力坝抗震稳定性,结果表明,下游坝后回填土可有效减小坝体滑动位移,加强其抗震稳定性。本文针对深厚覆盖层场地重力坝开展的抗震安全研究为抗震设计提供了科学依据,为强震区深厚覆盖层场地重力坝的抗震分析提供参考。     

Experimental seismic investigation of Sefid‐rud concrete buttress dam model on shaking table

Owing to the devastating M7.6 earthquake of 20 June 1990 that occurred in the northern province of Iran, Sefid‐rud concrete buttress dam located near the epicenter was severely shaken. The crack penetrated throughout the dam thickness near slope discontinuity, causing severe leakage, but with no general failure. In this study, nonlinear seismic response of the highest monolith with empty reservoir is investigated experimentally through model testing. A geometric‐scaled model of 1:30 was tested on a shaking table with high‐frequency capability to study dynamic cracking of the model and serve as data for nonlinear computer model calibration. Three construction joints are set up in the model to simulate effects of construction aspects. The experimental results are then compared with smeared crack and damage mechanics finite‐element simulations using nonlinear concrete constitutive models based on fracture mechanics. The crack patterns obtained from numerical models are in good agreement with those obtained from shaking table tests for the case of including construction joint effects and rigid foundation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

考虑堆石料空间变异性的土石坝坝坡地震稳定性随机有限元分析

本文探讨了筑坝堆石料的空间变异性对土石坝坝坡动力稳定性的影响。以新疆某在建高面板堆石坝为例,在蒙特卡洛法的框架下,采用基于局部平均细分法的随机有限元法模拟考虑筑坝堆石料空间变异性时土石坝的地震响应及坝坡滑移情况,通过对比随机有限元法和常规确定性有限元法的计算结果,提出:在地震动作用下,考虑筑坝材料空间变异性时,坝坡滑动体的数量、规模以及滑移量和滑动历时都有不同程度的增大,因而坝坡整体危险程度显著高于不考虑材料空间变异性的情况。坝坡各项动力安全性指标对筑坝材料空间变异性非常敏感;因而,考虑筑坝材料空间变异性时,各项安全性指标的离散性较大。     

Seismic stability of concrete gravity dams

Linear finite element analyses are commonly used to simulate the behaviour of gravity dam—foundation systems. However, the foundation is generally unable to develop any significant tensile stresses. Therefore any tension occurring in the vicinity of the dam—foundation interface is largely fictitious. Moreover, the traditional overturning and sliding stability criteria have little meaning in the context of the oscillatory response of dams during earthquakes. In this study, time domain analyses using non-linear contact elements located at the dam—foundation interface have been used to determine the dynamic sliding and uplifting response of gravity dam monoliths considering various elastic foundation properties. The magnitudes of the relative interface displacements, of the percentage of base not in contact (PBNC) and of the compressive stresses at the heel or toe of the dam have been used to monitor the seismic stability. The numerical results have shown that the non-linear behaviour of the dam—foundation interface reduces the seismic response of the system, indicating the possibility of more rational and economical designs. The PBNC was identified as the critical seismic stability response parameter for all analyses except for very flexible foundation conditions where the maximum values of relative interface displacements need to be considered.     

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.     

Influence of time-domain dam–reservoir interaction on cracking of concrete gravity DAMS

Based on a non-linear dam-reservoir interaction model, a study investigating the earthquake response of concrete gravity dams is presented. For the propagation of cracks in unreinforced mass concrete, a discrete crack approach formulation based on the finite element method is applied. A special crack element is used to follow a fictitious crack in order to account for a zone of microcracks developing at the crack tip. The reservoir is modelled using the boundary element method. At a fictitious boundary dividing the irregular finite part of the reservoir from the regular infinite part, the loss of energy due to pressure waves moving away towards infinity is taken into account rigorously. Analyses are performed on the tallest non-overflow monolith of the Pine Flat Dam located in Kern County, California. The interaction of a dam, which may exhibit cracks in mass concrete, with a reservoir domain of arbitrary geometry extending to infinity is studied. Some main parameters are investigated. The importance of tools capable of handling the non-linear dam-reservoir interaction is emphasized.     

混凝土重力坝FRP片材表面加固抗震性能研究

如何提高混凝土重力坝薄弱位置的抗震性能是国内外大坝抗震研究的热点问题。本文基于等价静力非线性方法,采用考虑混凝土细观非均匀特性的混凝土损伤模型,研究FRP片材表面加固大坝薄弱位置的抗震有效性。以2座不同形态的混凝土重力坝A、B为例,分别进行坝踵FRP片材表面加固研究和折坡处FRP片材表面加固研究,分析加固前后坝体的应力状态、裂缝扩展情况和破坏形态。数值模拟结果表明：坝踵处采用FRP片材加固可以很好地增强坝体的抗震性能,有效地抑制裂缝的产生和发展;折坡处采用FRP片材加固在一定程度上可以提高坝体的抗震性能,下游坝身加固与否对提高大坝的抗震性能影响不大。