Seismic Response of Concrete Gravity Dams Considering Hydrodynamic Effects

Abstract This paper presents a dynamic analytical study to assess the effect of dam height as well as fluid compressibility on the gravity response of a concrete dam, considering the effects of hydrodynamic interaction. The analysis is carried out using the ADINA Finite Element software for empty and full reservoir conditions by considering several models. In the first model, the mass of fluid is taken into account by the concept of Westergaard added mass, in the second model; an acoustic fluid element is used to simulate the effect of water on the reservoir. The height of the dam is one of the main factors affecting the seismic response of gravity dams; because the change in height provides different responses depending on the natural periods, displacements and stresses obtained from static and dynamic analyses. The numerical results showed that the effect of interaction between the dam and the reservoir plays an important role in the precise estimation of the dynamic response of gravity dams. The hydrodynamic water pressure from the reservoir increases stresses in the dam body and horizontal displacements at the crest. The seismic response obtained by the incompressible water model (Westergaard) is compared with that of the compressible water model.