RETRACTED ARTICLE: Seismic stability analysis of arch dam abutment based on full structural surface yield method

Abstract

This paper proposes an improved dynamic stability analysis for abutment of dam (IDSAM) by combining interface boundary element with partitioned finite element (PFE-IBE). The total yield of the control area is taken as the instability criterion, and the area is made up of contact point pairs controlling the structural surface. The full structural surface yield state of the structural surface of the dam abutment rock mass was taken into account. The strength reduction coefficient corresponding to the full structural surface yield was taken as the safety factor of dam abutment stability. In this way, the damage of the structural surface can be reflected more accurately and intuitively, eliminating the impact of human factors on the valuation of the safety factor. Three calculation methods are used to evaluate the abutment stability of the Shapai Arch Dam, including pseudo-static method, the combination between finite element method and rigid body limit equilibrium method, and the proposed IDSAM. The comparison of results shows that the dam abutment safety factor obtained by IDSAM (left 2.4, right 3.0) ranges between those obtained by pseudo-static method (left 2.116, right 2.945) and finite element rigid body limit equilibrium method (left 2.429, right 3.182). Hence, the safety factor acquired by our method is rational. Considering the nonlinear characteristics of rock mass discontinuity, IDSAM reflects the operating state of the arch dam, shedding new light on the evaluation of aseismatic safety.