Viscoplastic Damage-Softening Constitutive Model for Concrete Subjected to Uniaxial Dynamic Compression

A new viscoplastic damage-softening constitutive model is presented. It is developed by integrating a Bodner-Partom viscoplastic model with a newdamage evolution equation. A set of ordinary differential equations（ ODEs） is formulated,and a Runge-Kutta integral method is used to get stress-strain curves given by the model. Also,stress-strain curves of a wide range of strain-rates for concrete were obtained by split Hopkinson pressure bar（ SHPB） tests. By fitting the integral stressstrain curves to the experimental ones with the least square optimization method,we determined the material parameters in our model. Some properties of the newmodel,such as strain-rate sensitivity,damage evolution characteristics,strain-rate jump effects and unloading feature,are explored.These results showthat our new model can describe dynamic behaviors of concrete very well,and our integrating-fitting-optimizing method to get material parameters is valid.

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 assessmcnt of concrete dams are reviewed and discussed. First, the rate-dependent behavior of concrcte 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.