Hydrodynamic pressure on arch dam and gravity dam including absorption effect of reservoir sediments

Abstract

Based on the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), a procedure is developed for evaluation of hydrodynamic pressure acting on arch/gravity dam face. The effect of water compressibility and the absorption of reservoir bottom and sides are taken into consideration. Various factors that affect the earthquake induced hydrodynamic pressure are examined. Emphasis is placed on the influence of reservoir geometry on the magnitude and distribution of hydrodynamic pressure on arch/gravity dam face. Numerical examples demonstrate that SBFEM is a powerful numerical method dealing with hydrodynamic problems. It is computationally quite economical. The effects of water compressibility, reservoir boundary absorption as well as reservoir geometry can be considered with relative ease. Results also show that reservoir geometry affects the amplitude and distribution of hydrodynamic pressure acting on arch/gravity dam face considerably.