Geometrical dimensions effects on the seismic response of concrete gravity dams

Abstract

This study presents the effects of geometrical dimensions of concrete gravity dams on the seismic response considering different base width/dam height (L/H) ratios. In the study, a concrete gravity dam with the height of 200 m is selected and finite element models of the dam are constituted including five different L/H ratios such as 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25. All dams are modeled in ANSYS software considering damreservoir-foundation interaction. 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake records are applied to models in upstreamdownstream direction and linear time history analyses are performed. Dynamic equilibrium equations of motions obtained from the finite element models of the coupled systems are solved by using Newmark time integration algorithm. The seismic response of the models is evaluated from analyses presenting natural frequencies, mode shapes, displacements and principal stresses. The results show that the L/H ratios considerably affect the seismic response of gravity dams. Also, the model where L/H ratio is 1.00 has more desirable results and most appropriate representation of the seismic response of gravity dams.