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.     

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.     

Correlation between strong motion durations and damage measures of concrete gravity dams

Strong motion duration affects the cumulative damage of structures significantly. There are more than 30 different definitions of strong motion duration. This study describes numerically, the interdependency between several different definitions of strong motion duration and structural accumulated damage indices, and the aim is to determine the definitions of strong motion duration that exhibit the strongest influence on structural damages. For this purpose, 20 as-recorded accelerograms with a wide range of durations, which are modified to match a 5% damped target spectrum, are considered in this study, and several different definitions of strong motion duration, such as significant duration, bracketed duration and uniform duration are proposed for measuring these durations. On the other hand, nonlinear seismic analyses of concrete gravity dams subjected to earthquake motions with different strong motion durations are conducted according to the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model including the strain hardening or softening behavior. Peak displacement, local damage index, global damage index and damage energy dissipation are established for characterizing the influence of strong motion duration on the dynamic response of concrete gravity dams. The degree of the interrelationship between strong motion durations and damage measures is provided by correlation coefficients. Comparison of the correlation between the different durations of the ground motion and different damage measures reveals that strong motion durations calculated from different definitions have no significant influence on damage measure based on the peak displacement response of the dam, but are positively correlated to the accumulated damage measures such as the local damage index, global damage index and damage energy dissipation for events with similar response spectrum.     

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.     

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.     

Approximate incremental dynamic analysis using the modal pushover analysis procedure

Incremental dynamic analysis (IDA)—a procedure developed for accurate estimation of seismic demand and capacity of structures—requires non‐linear response history analysis of the structure for an ensemble of ground motions, each scaled to many intensity levels, selected to cover the entire range of structural response—all the way from elastic behaviour to global dynamic instability. Recognizing that IDA of practical structures is computationally extremely demanding, an approximate procedure based on the modal pushover analysis procedure is developed. Presented are the IDA curves and limit state capacities for the SAC‐Los Angeles 3‐, 9‐, and 20‐storey buildings computed by the exact and approximate procedures for an ensemble of 20 ground motions. These results demonstrate that the MPA‐based approximate procedure reduces the computational effort by a factor of 30 (for the 9‐storey building), at the same time providing results to a useful degree of accuracy over the entire range of responses—all the way from elastic behaviour to global dynamic instability—provided a proper hysteretic model is selected for modal SDF systems. The accuracy of the approximate procedure does not deteriorate for 9‐ and 20‐storey buildings, although their dynamics is more complex, involving several ‘modes’ of vibration. For all three buildings, the accuracy of the MPA‐based approximate procedure is also satisfactory for estimating the structural capacities for the limit states of immediate occupancy, collapse prevention, and global dynamic instability. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

混凝土重力坝整体动力特性研究

结合金安桥混凝土重力坝工程的抗震性能研究,对大坝按整体模型和分缝模型分别进行了动力试验。试验中考虑了横缝和动水压力的影响,得到了整个坝体空库、满库时的空间动力特性。并对大坝进行了三维有限元动力分析,与模型试验结果进行了比较,两者符合得较好。     

基于砌体结构破坏损伤的地震烈度物理标准研究

为了研究基于砌体结构破坏的地震烈度物理标准,将15个地震动参数按属性(峰值、频率、持时和能量)分成4类,将地震记录按地震动三要素(峰值、频率、持时)分成3组,求出每组记录作用下砌体结构的延性系数,计算出各个参数值和延性系数的相关系数,比较分析这些相关系数发现地震动峰值加速度、有效峰值加速度、地震动输入能量和滞回耗能都能表征地震动对砌体的破坏势,并且这4个参数都和烈度有很好的相关性,可以作为烈度的物理标准。     

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.     

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.     

Some considerations on the physical mea-sure of seismic intensity

Introduction In1564,an Italian man named Jacopo Gastaldi(XIE,1958)presented the first macroseismic intensity scale in the world,which based on the building damage and the ground surface failure after an earthquake.Today the seismic intensity has developed into an indispensable important concept,which applies to seismology and earthquake engineering,however it was just used to de-scribe earthquake damage while the concept of intensity was established.With this concept,seis-mologist can estima…     

基于SDOF体系和高层结构的地震动强度指标研究

合理的地震动强度指标是预测和评价结构抗震响应的重要基础.选取24个周期点的单自由度体系和一个高层框架核心筒长周期结构,基于不同震源机制的100条地震动记录时程分析结果,研究16种地震动强度指标与结构地震响应的相关性,并提出考虑高阶振型影响的改进反应谱相关型地震动强度指标.研究表明:(1)不同地震动强度指标与结构地震响应...     

基于能量耗散的重力坝地震响应时频特征分析

为了从能量角度研究重力坝地震响应的时频特征,在重力坝非线性动力分析基础上,探讨了重力坝地震过程中振动能量的时域耗散机制;采用小波频域多层次分解技术研究了其动响应的分频段能量特征,得到了坝体典型位置动响应分频段振动能量随高程的变化规律.通过分析发现:结构地震能量耗散为时域上不可逆的增加,坝体损伤集中出现在地震过程的某个时间段,地震动峰值后坝体损伤状态基本稳定;小波分解可以较全面地描述结构动响应能量的分频段特征.对于本文算例,在坝踵和上游折坡附近,重力坝地震响应的振动能量以4～8 Hz频段为主,这与输入的地震信号分频段特征一致;而坝顶附近则以1 ～4 Hz的振动能量为主,高频能量分量的比重随高程增大而逐渐减小.     

基于ANSYS的碾压混凝土重力坝抗震性能分析

采用有限元方法，分析了碾压混凝土重力坝在不同工况下的变形和应力变化规律，以了解坝体在设计条件下的工作性态和对坝体的抗震安全性能进行评估。     

基于IDA的高墩大跨桥梁地震易损性分析

针对目前我国桥梁抗震设计规范仅适用于墩高40m以下规则桥梁的现状,以一常见山区高墩大跨连续刚构桥为研究对象,采用IDA方法分析了桥梁结构在15条地震动下的动态响应,得到桥墩各截面在所有地震动作用下的曲率包络图。以高墩最不利截面的材料损伤应变所对应的截面曲率为损伤指标,结合能力需求比对数回归分析,计算了高墩在不同损伤状态下的破坏概率,建立了墩柱易损性曲线,同时还建立了梁端支座的易损性曲线。基于联合失效概率分析方法,形成了桥梁系统易损性曲线。分析结果表明:薄壁空心墩连续刚构桥在强地震作用下高墩发生破坏的部位主要集中在墩顶和墩底区域;墩柱发生完全破坏的概率极小,但桥台处梁端活动支座的地震损伤概率较高;桥梁系统损伤概率能够更加准确地反映高墩大跨桥梁的真实抗震性能。     

Ground motion selection for seismic slope displacement analysis using a generalized intensity measure distribution method

Selecting ground motions based on the generalized intensity measure distribution (GIMD) approach has many appealing features, but it has not been fully verified in engineering practice. In this paper, several suites of ground motions, which have almost identical distributions of spectral acceleration (SA) ordinates but different distributions of non‐SA intensity measures, are selected using the GIMD‐based approach for a given earthquake scenario. The selected ground motion suites are used to compute the sliding displacements of various slopes. Comparisons of the resulting displacements demonstrate that selecting ground motions with biased distribution of some intensity measures (ie, Arias intensity) may yield systematic biases (up to 60% for some slope types). Therefore, compared to the ground motions selected based only on the distribution of SA ordinates, the ground motion suite selected by the GIMD‐based approach can better represent the various characteristics of earthquake loadings, resulting in generally unbiased estimation in specific engineering applications.     

Assessment of seismic design response factors of concrete wall buildings

To verify the seismic design response factors of high-rise buildings, five reference structures, varying in height from 20- to 60-stories, were selected and designed according to modern design codes to represent a wide range of concrete wall structures. Verified fiber-based analytical models for inelastic simulation were developed, considering the geometric nonlinearity and material inelasticity of the structural members. The ground motion uncertainty was accounted for by employing 20 earthquake records representing two seismic scenarios, consistent with the latest understanding of the tectonic setting and seismicity of the selected reference region (UAE). A large number of Inelastic Pushover Analyses (IPAs) and Incremental Dynamic Collapse Analyses (IDCAs) were deployed for the reference structures to estimate the seismic design response factors. It is concluded that the factors adopted by the design code are adequately conservative. The results of this systematic assessment of seismic design response factors apply to a wide variety of contemporary concrete wall buildings with various characteristics.     

Sensitivity analysis of the seismic demands of RC moment resisting frames to different aspects of ground motions

A weight vector representing the relative importance of various characteristics of ground motions (GMs) and a conditioning intensity measure (IM) are required to be able to use the generalized conditional IM framework for the purpose of GM selection. An inappropriate weight vector may result in the biased distributions of some important characteristics of GMs and, consequently, the bias in the structural responses. This article aims to provide the analyst with the understanding of which properties of GMs are important in capturing the accurate structural responses, to specifically assign a suitable weight to them and to select an appropriate conditioning IM as well. To this end, 4 reinforced concrete buildings, located at the site in which the seismic hazard is dominated by shallow crustal earthquakes, are considered. The findings reveal that the appropriate weight vectors depend on the characteristics of the employed structural systems. In addition, the role played by each IM in capturing the true structural responses changes over different earthquake intensity levels implying that different weight vectors are required over different earthquake levels. Furthermore, this study shows that, even in case of shorter‐duration GMs from shallow events, GM duration should be incorporated in GM selection as it has effects on the peak‐based structural responses in the earthquake levels beyond the level of 2%‐in‐50‐years. Specifically, the findings reveal that in case of shallow events, unlike large magnitude earthquakes, the shorter the duration of GM the more rapid release of energy and, consequently, the larger the peak‐based structural responses.     

型钢混凝土框架结构基于增量动力分析的抗震性能评估

增量动力分析(IDA)是进行结构抗震性能评估的一种有效方法。根据IDA方法的原理和特点,提出用其评估型钢混凝土(SRC)结构在不同强度地震作用下变形和延性能力的具体步骤,并将结构不同性能水平极限状态和IDA曲线的斜率联系起来,结合现有试验确定各性能水准对应的曲线斜率下降幅值。在所提混凝土和钢材本构模型的基础上,采用IDA方法对一规则SRC框架结构进行分析,研究结构在各性能水平的层间位移角和延性分布情况,单条和多条地震记录的IDA曲线表明,SRC框架在多条地震记录下均具有良好的抗震性能。     

大坝抗震安全性研究进展

论证了广大坝抗震安全性研究的实践与发展现状。目前大坝在地震作用下的应力与变形分析方法主要有拟静力法和动力响应分析法,并依据大坝混凝土的抗拉强度判断大坝的安全性;各国规范体现的抗震设防弹念和大坝材料的容许应力差别很大。坝址河谷不同高程处地震动状态不尽相同、河谷两恻同一高程处地震动也不一样。混凝土材料的强度与加载速度、应变速率有关;地震时大坝不同部位的应变速率不相同、同一部位的应变速率也随时间变化;混凝土的动态强度既与应变速率有关。也与应变历史等其它因素有关。大坝河谷地震动的输入机理和模型研究、混凝土的动态强度的变化规律探索、大坝抗震安全性评价准则的完善与创新等将有待深入。通过以上内容针对性分析,提出了大坝抗震评价的一些合理建议、方法以及进一步的研究方向。