Non‐linear seismic response of arch dams with contraction joint opening and joint reinforcements

A comprehensive study of non‐linear seismic response of arch dams with contraction joint opening and joint reinforcements has been conducted. A numerical model of contraction joint reinforcements is presented for optimization control of the joint opening. The objective of this control is to reduce the joint opening and expectantly to balance the sustained loads between the horizontal and the vertical components of the dam, thus avoiding an overstress in the cantilever while retaining the release of arch tensile stresses to some extent. Several parameter studies such as critical element size and required number of joints to be simulated for convergence are also performed. As an engineering application, a 292‐m high arch dam (the Xiaowan arch dam) and the Big Tujunga dam are analysed in detail. The results demonstrate that the joint opening and the corresponding load transfer from the arch to cantilever components of the dam during strong earthquakes are substantial. It is also evident that by providing sufficient strength and reinforcement flexibility, the joint opening can be controlled to some extent. However, the stress redistribution due to reinforcement control is not sufficient to avoid the overstress in the cantilever for the Xiaowan arch dam. Thus, alternative measures are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Shaking table test on small‐scale retrofitted model of Sefid‐rud concrete buttress dam

Sefid‐rud concrete buttress dam with a height of 106 m was damaged during the devastating 1990 Manjil earthquake. The dam was repaired and strengthened using epoxy grouting of cracks and the installation of post‐tensioned anchors. In a previous study, nonlinear seismic response of the highest monolith with empty reservoir was investigated experimentally through model testing. A geometric‐scaled model of 1:30 was tested on a shaking table to study dynamic cracking of the model. As a result of the similarity between model and prototype cracking pattern, the model was retrofitted according to prototype retrofitting plan after the Manjil earthquake and re‐tested on shaking table to estimate the current safety of the prototype. Experimental test results showed that the post‐tensioning resulted in a significant decrease in dynamic responses in terms of crest displacement and measured strains of the retrofitted model in comparison with its corresponding responses at the first test. No cracking was observed in the retrofitted model when the base motion peak acceleration exceeded a value that was 22% higher than the one caused cracking in the first model. This can be interpreted as the efficiency of prototype post‐tensioning system in evaluating the seismic safety of Sefid‐rud dam. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Experimental study of seismic overloading of large arch dam

A dynamic overloading model test has been carried out on a shaking table for an arch dam of 278 m in height to investigate its behaviours under strong earthquake. The model system included the arch dam with contraction joints, part of reservoir, partial foundation rock with topographic feature near the dam. A damping boundary consisting of viscous liquid has been used to simulate the effect of dynamic energy emission to far field, which made the dynamic interaction between dam and foundation in model arch dam system be represented properly. Three sets of different seismic waves of design level have been used as the input to investigate the difference in the responses of arch dam. Artificial waves of different levels have been used to verify the behaviours of arch dam under seismic overloading. Since the opening of joints during strong earthquake reduced the response acceleration and tensile arch stress, cantilever stress on downstream face exceeded the tensile strength first for the model dam. And the arch dam responded in a non‐linear way when input seismic load increased. Some cracks appeared near abutments, and the damage made the natural frequency of arch dam to drop obviously, but the static function did not seem to change for the model tested. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of reinforcement strengthening for high‐arch dams to resist strong earthquakes

This paper focuses on analyzing the nonlinear seismic response of high‐arch dams with cantilever reinforcement strengthening. A modified embedded‐steel model is presented to evaluate the effects of the strengthening measure on alleviating the extension and opening of cracks under strong earthquakes. By stiffening reinforced steel, this model can easily consider the steel–concrete interaction for lightly reinforced concrete (RC) members without the need of dividing them into RC and plain concrete zones. The new tensile constitutive relations of reinforced steel are derived from the load–deformation relationship of RC members in direct tension. This model has been implemented in the finite element code and its applicability is verified by two numerical simulations for RC tests. Subsequently, numerical analyses for a 210‐m high‐arch dam (Dagangshan arch dam) are conducted with and without the presence of cantilever reinforcement. Numerical results show that reinforcement strengthening can reduce the nonlinear response of the arch dam, e.g. joint opening and crest displacement, and limit the extension and opening width of concrete cracks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear earthquake analysis of high arch dam–water–foundation rock systems

A nonlinear finite element model for earthquake response analysis of arch dam–water–foundation rock systems is proposed in this paper. The model includes dynamic dam–water and dam–foundation rock interactions, the opening of contraction joints, the radiation damping of semi‐unbounded foundation rock, the compressibility of impounded water, and the upstream energy propagating along the semi‐unbounded reservoir. Meanwhile, a new equivalent force scheme is suggested to achieve free‐field input in the model. The effects of the earthquake input mechanism, joint opening, water compressibility, and radiation damping on the earthquake response of the Ertan arch dam (240 m high) in China are investigated using the proposed model. The results show that these factors significantly affect the earthquake response of the Ertan arch dam. Such factors should therefore be considered in the earthquake response analysis and earthquake safety evaluation of high arch dams. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

有横缝拱坝的非线性动力模型试验和计算分析研究

本文通过在大型三向地震模拟振动台上进行的设置伸缩横缝的某拱坝非线性动力模型试验，应用非线性有限元动力分析程序同时进行计算分析，全面系统地研究了拱坝横缝对坝体动力特性和地震反应的影响，并对计算程序进行了改进。试验与计算结果相互印证，验证了试验成果的可靠性和计算分析模型、计算程序与计算结果的合理性。     

有缝拱坝-地基系统非线性地震波动反应分析方法

拱坝坝体中缝界面在地震作用下的开、合模拟对拱坝地震反应有重要影响。目前在拱坝地震反应分析中应用的一些模型,如Ｆｅｎｖｅｓ模型、Ｄｏｗｌｉｎｇ的三参数模型,存在对缝界面的接触状态模拟精度不高的问题,这对于准确评价工程上关心的缝界面最大张开率是不足的。此外,坝基中存在的断层、节理、裂隙待软弱夹层的非线性力学特性和无限地基能量辐射作用对拱坝地震反应也有重要影响。在拱坝地震反应分析中同时考虑这三种影响因素     

Integrative seismic safety evaluation of a high concrete arch dam

An integrative seismic safety evaluation of an arch dam should include all sources of nonlinearities, dynamic interactions between different components and the external loads. The present paper investigates the calibration procedure and nonlinear seismic response of an existing high arch dam. The first part explains the conducted analyses for the static and thermal calibrations of the dam based on site measurements. The second part investigates the nonlinear seismic analysis of the calibrated model considering the effect of joints, cracking of mass concrete, reservoir–dam–rock interaction, hydrodynamic pressure inside the opened joints and the geometric nonlinearity. Penetration of the water inside the opened joints accelerates the damage process. The integrative seismic assessment of a case study shows that the dam will fail under the maximum credible earthquake scenario. The dam is judged to be severely damaged with extensive cracking and the joints undergo opening/sliding. A systematic procedure is proposed for seismic and post-seismic safety of dams.     

Nonlinear seismic response analysis of arch dam-foundation systems- part II opening and closing contact joints

A time-domain method for the analysis of arch dam-foundation rock dynamic interaction during earthquake was proposed, and the dynamic relaxation technique was adopted to obtain the initial static response for dynamic analysis by [Du et al. (2005). The paper has been contributed to Bulletin of earthquake engineering]. In this paper, a nonlinear explicit method in time domain considering the opening and closing effect of contact joints on arch dam during earthquake is further proposed by introducing the dynamic contact force model into the method. The simulation accuracy of dynamic contact force model is verified by comparing its calculation result and test result of scale model on shaking table. Finally, the influence of joints on the seismic response of Xiaowan arch dam is studied by the proposed method and some conclusions are given.     

A comparative study of the different procedures for seismic cracking analysis of concrete dams

Different procedures are compared for the three-dimensional seismic cracking analysis of gravity and arch dams during strong earthquakes. The fracture procedures include the extended finite element method with cohesive constitutive relations, crack band finite element method with plastic-damage relations, and the finite element Drucker−Prager elasto-plastic model. These procedures are used to analyze the nonlinear dynamic response of Koyna dam to the 1967 Koyna earthquake and the seismic cracking of the Dagangshan arch dam subjected to design earthquake. The cracking process and profiles of the two dams using the three different procedures are compared. The applicability and the suitability of the three procedures for seismic cracking analysis of gravity and arch dams are discussed.     

Efficient non-linear seismic analysis of arch dams

An approximate procedure for seismic analysis of concrete arch dams which is based on the smeared crack method is described. Features include construction sequence modelling, water and foundation interaction, crack formation, opening and closing of joints and cracks, frictional sliding, presence of shear keys, action of internal water pressure, and a reliable solution algorithm. Complete solutions can be obtained in an hour on a fast workstation computer, allowing parameter studies to be run. Results suggest that an arch dam can suffer significant cracking during strong ground shaking and still remain stable. © 1998 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.     

库水模型及库水深度对拱坝动力响应的影响

基于接触非线性有限元模型,以锦屏一级拱坝为例,库水分别采用附加质量模型、可压缩流体有限元模型、不可压缩流体有限元模型计算了正常蓄水位及运行低水位时坝体的动力响应,结果表明:库水模型对拱坝动力响应有较大影响,随库水深度的增大,各模型计算结果差异增大;相比于流体可压缩模型,采用不可压缩流体模型所得动力响应普遍偏大;运行低水位工况,由于静水压力减小导致拱效应减弱,从而降低了拱坝的整体性,因此运行低水位工况各缝开度普遍高于正常蓄水位工况,且其拉应力范围较大,因此,运行低水位工况将对抗震设计起控制作用。     

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.     

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.     

高土石坝振动台模型试验理论、技术与应用

对土石坝振动台模型试验理论和技术进行系统阐述,提出基于原型和模型坝料静、动力特性试验的模型相似设计方法和不同强度地震动递进输入(白噪声微振-设计地震-校核地震-破坏试验)的振动试验方法。基于1g大型振动台和ng超重力离心机振动台设备性能现状,结合高土石坝的结构特点和动力试验相似模拟要求,对土石坝振动台模型试验的优势及局限进行深入讨论。结合已有的工程实践,对土石坝振动台模型试验在工程中的应用进行总结,并以某实际高面板堆石坝为例研究面板坝生命周期内经历多次地震情况下结构动力特性的演化规律。     

Seismic failure modeling of concrete dams considering heterogeneity of concrete

Study on the failure process of high concrete dams subjected to strong earthquakes is crucial to reasonable evaluation of their seismic safety. Numerical simulation in this aspect involves dynamic failure analysis of big bulk concrete dam subjected to cyclic loading. The Rock Failure Process Analysis (RFPA) proposed by C.A. Tang, with successful applications to failure modeling of rock and concrete specimens mainly subjected to static loading, is extended for this purpose. For using the proposed model, no knowledge on the cracking route needs to be known beforehand, and no remeshing is required. Simulation of the whole process of elastic deformation, initiation and propagation of microcracks, severe damage and ultimate failure of concrete dams in earthquakes with a unified model is enabled. The model is verified through a shaking table test of an arch dam. Finally a practical gravity dam is employed as a numerical example. Considering the uncertainty in ground motion input and concrete material, typical failure process and failure modes of gravity dam are presented. Several small cracks may occur due to tension particularly at dam neck, dam faces and dam heel, and a few of them evolve into dominant ones. Relatively smaller earthquake may cause damage to the dam neck while a bigger one may bring on cracks at lower parts of the dams. Cracking at the dam bottom may incline to a direction almost perpendicular to the downstream face after propagating horizontally for a certain distance when the shaking is strong enough.