Dynamic analysis of Pine Flat dam–water–foundation rock system utilizing the H-W truncation boundary condition

Purpose

The response of the Pine Flat dam–water–foundation rock system is studied by a new described approach (i.e. FE-(FE-TE)-FE). The initial part of study is focused on the time harmonic analysis. In this part, it is possible to compare the transfer functions against corresponding responses obtained by the FE-(FE-HE)-FE approach (referred to as exact method which employs a rigorous fluid hyper-element). Subsequently, the transient analysis is carried out. In that part, it is only possible to compare the results for low and high normalized reservoir length cases. Therefore, the sensitivity of results is controlled due to normalized reservoir length values.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, dynamic analysis of a typical concrete gravity dam–water–foundation rock system is formulated by the FE-(FE-TE)-FE approach. In this technique, dam and foundation rock are discretized by plane solid finite elements while, water domain near-field region is discretized by plane fluid finite elements. Moreover, the H-W (i.e. Hagstrom–Warburton) high-order condition is imposed at the reservoir truncation boundary. This task is formulated by employing a truncation element at that boundary. It is emphasized that reservoir far-field is excluded from the discretized model.

Findings

High orders of H-W condition, such as O5-5 considered herein, generate highly accurate responses for both possible excitations under both types of full reflective and absorptive reservoir bottom conditions. It is such that transfer functions are hardly distinguishable from corresponding exact responses obtained through the FE-(FE-HE)-FE approach in time harmonic analyses. This is controlled for both low and high normalized reservoir length cases (L/H = 1 and 3). Moreover, it can be claimed that transient analysis leads practically to exact results (in numerical sense) when one is employing high order H-W truncation element. In other words, the results are not sensitive to reservoir normalized length under these circumstances.

Originality/value

Dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dam–water–foundation rock systems is formulated by a new method. The salient aspect of the technique is that it utilizes H-W high-order condition at the truncation boundary. The method is discussed for all types of excitation and reservoir bottom conditions.