Static and dynamic damage analysis of mass concrete in hydropower house of Three Gorges Project

Abstract

This paper establishes a 3D numerical model for 15# hydropower house of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) and performs a nonlinear static and dynamic damage analysis. In this numerical model, a coupling model of finite and infinite elements for simulating infinite foundation of hydropower station is adopted. A plastic-damage model based on continuum damage mechanics, which includes the softening and damage behavior under tension is considered for the concrete material. The dynamic equilibrium equations of motion are solved by using the Hilber-Hughes-Taylor (HHT) time integration method. Firstly, the static damage response analysis of the hydropower station is conducted due to high tensile stress resulting from large water head and diameter of an inlet pipe. Then, on the basis of static simulation, the dynamic damage analysis of hydropower house subjected to earthquake motion is simulated. Numerical results show that under large water head and diameter of an inlet pipe of the project, the damages are mainly located near the top of the spiral case from the inlet section to the 0° section; under combined loadings of static loads and earthquake, the damages of the concrete surrounding the spiral case increase insignificantly; however, some damages occur on the side walls of the main powerhouse.