Abstract
This study is aimed to provide a structural dynamic analysis of embankment dams using numerical methods. The dynamic analyses are performed based on the time histories by applying accelerogram of several real earthquakes. For a dynamic analysis, it is initially performed a comprehensive study of the characteristics and coordinates of the earthquake accelerograms. The numerical analysis method is established on the comparison of the results of the numerical finite difference (FDM) and finite element (FEM) methods. This paper constitutes two-dimensional numerical plane-strain dynamic analyses in time domain. The focus of this research is to examine the amplified impacts of accelerations and the lateral (horizontal) and vertical (settlement) displacements due to earthquake loading. All the models are undergone the static analysis, followed by dynamic analysis, and after the initial static equilibrium, they are placed under dynamic loading. It is presented a case study on Jamishan Embankment Dam in Kermanshah Province, Iran. The analytical results indicate that there is a good agreement between both numerical methods; however, there are some rare cases with contradictory results, majorly due to the slight differences of fundamental calculations or the definitions of damping ratio and boundary conditions in both numerical methods. Nevertheless, the results illustrate that the free board height of the Jamishan Dam determined by the consultant engineer is responsive to the most critical conditions and prevents the water overflow from the dam in case of strong vibrations.
Highlights
Various dams have been ever built of concrete or earth-filled structures in the world
Concrete is more expensive than earth materials; it might be costly to construct the concrete dams by massive and wide formworks to pour concrete compared with the construction of the embankment dams, as the earth materials required might be supplied from the project site itself or the nearby mines
It has been yet utilized the construction sites with high bearing capacity providing for building concrete dams in the country ) Rahimi H., 2010).; there are poor beds and sites, which could be necessarily used to construct embankment dams
Summary
Various dams have been ever built of concrete or earth-filled structures in the world. Concrete is more expensive than earth materials; it might be costly to construct the concrete dams by massive and wide formworks to pour concrete compared with the construction of the embankment dams, as the earth materials required might be supplied from the project site itself or the nearby mines It has been yet utilized the construction sites with high bearing capacity providing for building concrete dams in the country ) Rahimi H., 2010).; there are poor beds and sites, which could be necessarily used to construct embankment dams. The sectional shape of interface between dam and its bed is quite different in terms of dam core, so that wide base of an embankment dam transfers the stresses much smoother than a concrete one In this case, it is provided for constructing the embankment dams in the poor beds, where is almost impossible to build concrete ones
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