Transient response of “Brezina concrete arch dam”–“Reservoir water”–“Rock foundation” system

Abstract In this paper, transient responses of the Brezina concrete arch dam, located in the west of Algeria, are determined using the finite elements commercial package, Ansys. A 3D model has been created to study the rock–fluid–structure interaction phenomenon. The foundation rock is modeled as a mass rock using solid finite elements, and the reservoir water is modeled using fluid finite element for the 3D model; the length and width of the foundation rock and water reservoir, along the global X and Y axes, are taken to be 150 m and 300 m, respectively, while its depth (or height), along the Z direction, is taken to be 100 m (the total height of the model is thus 160 m considering that the reservoir water height is taken to be 50 m). Coupling equations available in the Ansys code library are used to represent the dam–water and dam–foundation interfaces. It is found that the role of the reservoir water is mixed. In some cases, its presence is like a damper, which means it decreases the range of displacement or stresses, whereas in other cases, it increases or has a negligible effect on these quantities. A notable finding is the magnitude of the calculated stresses, which stands at a very low level, either with or without water. An in-depth review of the literature reveals that the study carried out in this research encompasses several elements of originality, as only very few similar works have been undertaken.