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.     

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.     

A continuum damage concrete model for earthquake analysis of concrete gravity dam–reservoir systems

In this study, the earthquake damage response of the concrete gravity dams is investigated with considering the effects of dam–reservoir interaction. A continuum damage model which is a second-order tensor and includes the strain softening behavior is selected for the concrete material. The mesh-dependent hardening technique is adopted such that the fracture energy dissipated is not affected by the finite element mesh size. The dynamic equilibrium equations of motion are solved by using the improved form of the HHT-α time integration algorithm. Two dimensional seismic analysis of Koyna gravity dam is performed by using the 1967 Koyna earthquake records. The effects of damage on the earthquake response of concrete gravity dams are discussed. Comparison of the Westergaard and Lagrangian dam–reservoir interaction solutions is made. The effects of viscous damping ratio on the damage response of the dam are also studied.     

Behavior of large fill dams during earthquake and earthquake damage

This paper describes the behavior of and damage to large fill dams during earthquakes. Although fill dams have been constructed since olden times, there are only records of recent earthquake damage. We analyzed the behavior of fill dams of at least 15 m in height during earthquakes, and investigated the damage to the fill dams. The fact that fill dams that are designed and constructed based on the modern design standards have never been failed but have been only slightly affected by past earthquakes in Japan and other nations suggests that such large fill dams are highly earthquake resistant. The modern conventional design methods (soil engineering control of the bank soil, method for evaluating slip safety, and evaluation method of the foundation ground) are thus fully adequate for determining earthquake resistance.     

估计和比较地震动潜在破坏势的综合评述

如何估计和比较地震动对结构的破坏作用，一直是国内外抗震研究中的一个至关重要的问题。本主要篇幅用于介绍这一领域迄今所取得的成果并作了简单的评述，并在此基础上，提出了一种可用来比较地震动潜在破坏势的综合评估法，提出该方法的目的并不在意去确定什么量更能代表地震动在潜在破坏势，而只是在考察现有的各种被认为能代表地震动的潜在破坏势的各种参数基础上，考虑采用什么方法才能更合理地判定和比较地震动的破坏势，为此本将通常作为地震动潜在破坏势的地震动参数分成两类：一类为直接由地震动本身得到的参数，另一类为地震动通过结构反应得到的参数，并分别对此进行了讨论和分析，在此基础上得出了一种在目前可认为是研究地震动潜在破坏势押送为合理的方法-地震动潜在破坏势综合评价法。     

Correlation between seismic parameters of far-fault motions and damage indices of low-rise reinforced concrete frames

The aim of this paper is to present the results of an investigation on the degree of correlation that exists between several available seismic parameters of far-fault ground motions and the structural damage under earthquake in low-rise reinforced concrete buildings. The results show that Velocity Spectrum Intensity is the leading parameter exhibiting the strongest correlation, followed by Housner Intensity and Spectral Acceleration. Interestingly, six of the very commonly used seismic parameters demonstrate poor correlations with the damage of such structures. The results also show the existence of a very weak correlation (far behind many other seismic parameters) between the conventionally used parameter Peak Ground Acceleration and the damage (either expressed through the damage index or the inter storey drift).     

2013年4月20日四川芦山地震强地面运动三要素特征分析

2013年4月20日四川省芦山县境内发生MS7.0级地震,地震造成196人死亡,21人失踪,11470人受伤,震中最大烈度IX.地震发生后,中国数字强震动观测网络和成都市地震烈度速报网络分别获得了114组和63组3分量强震动记录.记录得出在近场加速度幅值较高,与汶川地震峰值相当,然而震害却不严重.本文介绍了这些记录的基本情况,分析了其地震动三要素（幅值、持时、频谱）特征以及对建筑物结构的潜在影响.分析结果表明：芦山地震PGA（地震动峰值加速度）与我国常用的霍俊荣地震动预测方程较一致,高于即将颁布的第五代区划图中使用的预测方程;PGV（地震动峰值速度）与第五代区划图中使用的预测方程基本一致;Significant持时和Bracketed持时高于全球经验预测方程,且Bracketed持时衰减显著慢于全球平均水平;典型11个幅值较大记录的5%阻尼比加速度反应谱峰值周期都在0.1~0.2 s范围内,且谱值远高于规范设计谱,但在周期0.3 s之后迅速下降至设计谱以下;芦山地震地震动PGV值较小以及对应我国中小城市和城镇主要建筑物的结构自振周期范围（0.3~1 s）内加速度反应谱远低于规范设计谱,可用于解释其震害相对较轻的原因.     

Evolution of accelerographs, data processing, strong motion arrays and amplitude and spatial resolution in recording strong earthquake motion

This paper presents a review of the advances in strong motion recording since the early 1930s, based mostly on the experiences in the United States. A particular emphasis is placed on the amplitude and spatial resolution of recording, which both must be ‘adequate’ to capture the nature of strong earthquake ground motion and response of structures. The first strong motion accelerographs had optical recording system, dynamic range of about 50 dB and useful life longer than 30 years. Digital strong motion accelerographs started to become available in the late 1970s. Their dynamic range has been increasing progressively, and at present is about 135 dB. Most models have had useful life shorter than 5–10 years. One benefit from a high dynamic range is early trigger and anticipated ability to compute permanent displacements. Another benefit is higher sensitivity and hence a possibility to record smaller amplitude motions (aftershocks, smaller local earthquakes and distant large earthquakes), which would augment significantly the strong motion databases. The present trend of upgrading existing and adding new stations with high dynamic range accelerographs has lead to deployment of relatively small number of new stations (the new high dynamic range digital instruments are 2–3 times more expensive than the old analog instruments or new digital instruments with dynamic range of 60 dB or less). Consequently, the spatial resolution of recording, both of ground motion and structural response, has increased only slowly during the past 20 years, by at most a factor of two. A major (and necessary) future increase in the spatial resolution of recording will require orders of magnitude larger funding, for purchase of new instruments, their maintenance, and for data retrieval, processing, management and dissemination. This will become possible only with an order of magnitude cheaper and ‘maintenance-free’ strong motion accelerographs. In view of the rapid growth of computer technology this does not seem to be (and should not be) out of our reach.     

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.     

从集集地震看建筑物震害与地震动参数的关系

本文根据9．21台湾集集大地震中南投县、台中县、台北县和苗栗县的建筑物震害调查资料确定出这4个主要受害地区的平均震害指数,然后义计算出这4个地区的地震动峰值加速度、峰值速度、峰值谱加速度、峰值谱速度、峰值谱位移的平均值。将这些均值分别与平均震害指数进行基于最小二乘法的线性回归,发现峰值速度和震害指数有非常好的相关性,相关系数接近1．0,而峰值加速度与震害指数相关性只有0．8,这说明地震动峰值速度能够体现地震动对脆性结构的破坏势,与以往将不同次地震的记录和资料混淆在一起研究而获得峰值加速度与震害有很好相关性形成了对比。     

Correlation of JMA instrumental seismic intensity with strong motion parameters

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) seismic intensity (I_JMA) has been used as a measure of strong shaking for many years in Japan, and it necessitates to know the correlation between the JMA seismic intensity and other strong motion indices, e.g. Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), Peak Ground Velocity (PGV), and Spectrum Intensity (SI). In this study, two strong motion data sets were selected; in which, the first set consists of 879 three‐components non‐liquefied records selected from 13 major earthquake events that occurred in Japan, the United States, and Taiwan, and the second set consists of 17 liquefied records selected from 7 major earthquake events that occurred in Japan and the United States. The JMA seismic intensity and other ground motion indices were calculated using the selected data sets. The relationships between the JMA seismic intensity and PGA, PGV, and SI were then derived performing a two‐stage linear regression analysis. Results from the analysis show that the JMA instrumental seismic intensity shows higher correlation with SI than PGA or PGV, and it shows the highest correlation with the parameters such as the combination of PGA and SI or the product of PGA and SI. The obtained relationships are also compared with the ones obtained by other studies, which may be useful for the disaster management agencies in Japan and deployment of new SI‐sensors that monitor both PGA and SI. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Earthquake safety assessment of concrete arch and gravity dams

Based on research studies currently being carried out at Dalian University of Technology, some important aspects for the earthquake safety assessment of concrete dams are reviewed and discussed. First, the rate-dependent behavior of concrete subjected to earthquake loading is examined, emphasizing the properties of concrete under cyclic and biaxial loading conditions. Second, a modified four-parameter Hsieh-Ting-Chen viscoplastic consistency model is developed to simulate the rate-dependent behavior of concrete. The earthquake response of a 278m high arch dam is analyzed, and the results show that the strain-rate effects become noticeable in the inelastic range. Third, a more accurate non-smooth Newton algorithm for the solution of three-dimensional frictional contact problems is developed to study the joint opening effects of arch dams during strong earthquakes. Such effects on two nearly 300m high arch dams have been studied. It was found that the canyon shape has great influence on the magnitude and distribution of the joint opening along the dam axis. Fourth, the scaled boundary finite element method presented by Song and Wolf is employed to study the dam-reservoir-foundation interaction effects of concrete dams. Particular emphases were placed on the variation of foundation stiffness and the anisotropic behavior of the foundation material on the dynamic response of concrete dams. Finally, nonlinear modeling of concrete to study the damage evolution of concrete dams during strong earthquakes is discussed. An elastic-damage mechanics approach for damage prediction of concrete gravity dams is described as an example. These findings are helpful in understanding the dynamic behavior of concrete dams and promoting the improvement of seismic safety assessment methods.     

2015年尼泊尔Mw7.8地震震源机制InSAR反演及强地面运动模拟

2015年4月25日,在尼泊尔中部发生了M_w7.8地震.本文利用ALOS-2和SENTINEL-1A宽幅数据获取了该地震大范围的同震形变场,并反演了该地震断层破裂的几何特征及运动机制,继而以此为约束资料反演地震强地面运动.InSAR结果显示本次地震造成了巨大的地表形变,LOS向最大抬升量达到1.3 m,最大下沉量达到0.7 m.震源机制反演得到的最优的滑动分布模型表明,断层的走向为291°,倾角为7.6°,倾滑主要分布在深度为12~18 km范围,主倾滑分布范围在长度上达到了140 km,该范围内的平均倾滑角为95°.本次地震最大倾滑量达到5.3 m,位于深度15 km处.累计释放地震矩达 6.5×10²⁰N·m,约合矩震级M_w7.8.该地震发生在印度与欧亚板块俯冲逆冲界面之间,发震构造推断为主喜马拉雅逆冲断裂,属于典型的喜马拉雅型——低角度逆断层型强震.以该滑动分布模型参数为基础利用随机振动的有限断层模型进行尼泊尔地震的强地面运动模拟,结果显示最大地震烈度为Ⅸ度,烈度分布的范围及烈度等级与USGS模型结果对比具有很高的符合度.     

Incremental dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dams including base and lift joints

The growth in computer processing power has made it possible to use time-consuming analysis methods such as incremental dynamic analysis(IDA) with higher accuracy in less time.In an IDA study,a series of earthquake records are applied to a structure at successively increasing intensity levels,which causes the structure to shift from the elastic state into the inelastic state and finally into collapse.In this way,the limit-states and capacity of a structure can be determined.In the present research,the IDA of a concrete gravity dam considering a nonlinear concrete behavior,and sliding planes within the dam body and at the dam-foundation interface,is performed.The influence of the friction angle and lift joint slope on the response parameters are investigated and the various limit-states of the dam are recognized.It is observed that by introducing a lift joint,the tensile damage can be avoided for the dam structure.The lift joint sliding is essentially independent of the base joint friction angle and the upper ligament over the inclined lift joint slides into the upstream direction in strong earthquakes.     

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.     

Evaluation of near-source seismic records based on damage potential parameters: Case study: Greece

The study presents the results of an investigation that identifies among the available records in Greece those that reveal near-source characteristics, using a procedure based on damage potential parameters. The findings reaffirm the opinion that earthquakes with magnitude less than M=6.0 present near-source phenomena that can cause severe damage to relatively stiff structures, common in urban areas. Spectra from selected accelerograms of near-source records are compared with the corresponding elastic spectra of the current Greek Seismic Code, (EAK 2000), the impulsive character of the Greek near-source records is ascertained and shortcomings of EAK 2000 to account for near-source effects are demonstrated.Based on records from seismic events in Greece and records from international earthquakes of small-to-moderate magnitude, the study demonstrates that there exists a near-source magnitude-distance region, where the velocity pulses have smaller amplitude and period in comparison with earthquakes of great magnitude. A simplified representation of three pulse types is, also, adopted for near-source events. It is found that the type-A pulse related to permanent displacement phenomena does not characterize Greek records. In addition a simple criterion is developed to identify the most appropriate simplified pulse type for near-source seismic events independently of magnitude.     

Critical evaluation of strong motion in Kocaeli and Düzce (Turkey) earthquakes

Turkey was struck by two major events on August 17th and November 12th, 1999. Named Kocaeli (M_w=7.4) and Düzce (M_w=7.2) earthquakes, respectively, the two earthquakes provided the most extensive strong ground motion data set ever recorded in Turkey. The strong motion stations operated by the General Directorate of Disaster Affairs, the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute of Bogazici University and Istanbul Technical University have produced at least 27 strong motion records for the Kocaeli earthquake within 200 km of the fault. Kocaeli earthquake has generated six motions within 20 km of the fault adding significantly to the near-field database of ground motions for M_w>=7.0 strike–slip earthquakes. The paper discusses available strong motion data, studies their attenuation characteristics, analyses time domain, as well as spectral properties such as spectral accelerations with special emphasis on fault normal and fault parallel components and the elastic attenuation parameter, kappa. A simulation of the Kocaeli earthquake using code FINSIM is also presented.     

Evidence for fault-related directionality and localized site effects from strong motion recordings of the 2003 Boumerdes (Algeria) earthquake: Consequences on damage distribution and the Algerian seismic code

The Algiers–Boumerdes region has been struck by a destructive magnitude 6.8 (M_w) earthquake on May 21, 2003. The study presented in this paper is based on main shock strong motions from 13 stations of the Algerian accelerograph network. A maximum 0.58g peak ground acceleration (PGA) has been recorded at 20 km from the epicenter, only about 150 m away from a PGA of 0.34g, with both a central frequency around 5 Hz, explained by a strong very localized site effect, confirmed by receiver function technique results showing peaks at 5 Hz with amplitudes changing by a factor of 2. Soil amplifications are also evidenced at stations located in the quaternary Mitidja basin, explaining the higher PGA values recorded at these stations than at stations located on firm soil at similar distances from the epicenter. A fault-related directionality effect observed on the strong motion records and confirmed by the study of the seismic movement anisotropy, in agreement with the N65 fault plan direction, explains the SW–NE orientation of the main damage zone. In the near field, strong motions present a high-frequency content starting at 3 Hz with a central frequency around 8 Hz, while in the far field their central frequency is around 3 Hz, explaining the high level of damage in the 3- to 4-story buildings in the epicentral zone. The design spectra overestimate the recorded mean response spectra, and its high corner frequency is less than the recorded one, leading to a re-examination of the seismic design code that should definitively integrate site-related coefficient, to account for the up to now neglected site amplification, as well as a re-modeling of the actual design spectra. Finally, both the proposed Algerian attenuation law and the worldwide laws usually used in Algeria underestimate the recorded accelerations of the 6.8 (M_w) Boumerdes earthquake, clearly showing that it is not possible to extrapolate the proposed Algerian law to major earthquakes.     

2014年2月12日新疆于田地震强地面运动初步模拟及烈度预测

2014年2月12日新疆自治区于田县发生了MS7.3级地震.在已知的三维介质模型、地形数据基础上,利用震源运动学初步反演模型（张勇等,2014）,作者采用曲线坐标网格三维曲线有限差分方法模拟了于田地震波场传播过程,并计算了模拟区域地震烈度分布.结果表明：地震最大烈度为7度,距离震中最近的于田县城烈度约为5度,断层西北侧地面震动略强于断层东南侧.另外模拟结果还显示地震动在山脊处具有较大的幅度.该地震本身主要能量释放区域在中地壳,主要滑动未及地表,因此对地表造成的破坏有限,这与目前尚无人员伤亡报告的情况相符合.     

2014年8月3日云南鲁甸地震强地面运动初步模拟及烈度预测

2014年8月3日云南省昭通市鲁甸县发生了Ms6.5级地震.在已知的三维介质模型、地形数据基础上,利用震源运动学初步反演模型（张勇等,2014）,作者采用曲线坐标网格三维曲线有限差分方法模拟了鲁甸地震波场传播过程,并计算了模拟区域地震烈度分布.结果表明：地震最大烈度为Ⅶ度,破坏主要集中在鲁甸县以及巧家县、会泽县靠近鲁甸县的边界.另外,模拟结果还显示地震动在山峰、山脊处具有较大的幅度.计算表明断层东北侧的低速沉积盆地的波动放大效应加强了该地区的地震灾害.