THE EFFECTS ON SHAPE-MODELING OF CONCRETE GRAVITY DAMS IN EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE ANALYSES

Abstract

To clarify the effects of seismic response of concrete gravity dams under large earthquake, finite element method (FEM) analyses were carried out. In analyses, the height of dam and material properties of concrete and basement rock are same. The 2-dimensional (2D) and the 3-dimensional (3D) FEM model were made and used in earthquake response analyses. The contraction joints between dam block are concerned in 3D non-linear FEM analysis. In the case of same height of dam, the numerical results of damage states and placements in dam are different between 2D FEM model and 3D FEM model, due to the effect of difference in vibration mode of dam. In the 2D FEM model, the damage of top in cross-section becomes remarkable. In the 3D FEM model, the damage of attachment between dam body and basement rock at high-elevation becomes remarkable. The damage of 3D FEM model is smaller than that of 2D FEM model for the same acceleration level of earthquake. The influence of seismic response on contraction joints of 3D non-linear FEM dam model is smaller, which is as same as that of 3D linear FEM dam model. From the above results, the 2D FEM model gives a conservative assessment compared to the 3D FEM model.