Seismic analysis of dam-foundation-reservoir system including the effects of foundation mass and radiation damping

One of the main concerns in using commercial software for finite element analyses of dam-foundation-reservoir systems is that the simplifying assumptions of the massless foundation are unreliable. In this study, an appropriate direct finite element method is introduced for simulating the mass, radiation damping and wave propagation effect in foundations of damfoundation-reservoir systems using commercial software ABAQUS. The free-field boundary condition is used for modeling the semi-infinite foundation and radiation damping, which is not a built-in boundary condition in most of the available commercial software for finite element analysis of structures such as ANSYS or ABAQUS and thus needs to be implemented differently. The different mechanism for modeling of the foundation, earthquake input and far-field boundary condition is described. Implementation of the free-field boundary condition in finite element software is verified by comparing it with analytical results. To investigation the feasibility of the proposed method in dam-foundation-reservoir system analysis, a series of analyses is accomplished in a variety of cases and the obtained results are compared with the substructure method by using the EAGD-84 program. Finally, the massed and massless foundation results are compared and it is concluded that the massless foundation approach leads to the overestimation of the displacements and stresses within the dam body.

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.

Overview of the seismic input at dam sites in China

The current Chinese national standard,the Standard for Seismic Design of Hydraulic Structures(GB51247),released in 2018,is strictly based on China’s national conditions and dam engineering features.A comprehensive and systematic overview of the basis of the seismic fortification requirements,the framework of the fortification criteria,and the mechanisms of seismic input related to the seismic design of dams are presented herein.We first analyzed and clarified several conceptual aspects in traditional seismic design of dams.Then,for the seismic input at the dam site described in the first national standard for hydraulic structures,we expounded innovative concepts,ideas,and methods to make relevant provisions more realistic and practical and discussed whether reservoir earthquakes must be included in the seismic fortification framework of dams.This study seeks to incorporate seismic input at the dam site into traditional seismic design practice to promote its improvement from the quasi-static method to the dynamic method and from the closed vibration system to an open wave propagation system,to ensure that the seismic design of dams becomes more reasonable,reliable,scientific,and economic.