Dynamic Structural Analysis of Large Dams by Fourier SEM

Abstract

Spectral element method (SEM), which combines the ideas of the finite element method (FEM) with the theory of spectral method, is being in the initial stage of developing for the static and dynamic analysis of large dams. The best advantage of SEM is that it can arrive at so-called spectral accuracy out of FEMs reach. In this paper, the Fourier SEM has been first used in dynamic analysis of large dams in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of numerical results and procedure. The study begins with the governing equation of motion of large dams, then deduces the corresponding SEM stiffness, mass (damping) matrix and equivalent load vector taking advantage of the Fourier interpolation polynomials to approximate the unknowns in spatial domains. This paper also reveals the valuable application of SEM in complicated structural engineering. The formulation proposed in this paper can also be applied to the general dynamic analysis of physical structures.