A procedure to predict the precise seismic response of arch dams in time domain using boundary element formulation

Abstract

Abstract In this context, a new boundary element algorithm based on the time-convoluted traction kernels is employed to evaluate the spatially varying earthquake ground motions of the Pacoima dam in the USA subjected to SH, SV and P incident waves. An accurate three-dimensional (3D) model of the dam canyon is implemented into the computer code BEMSA to investigate the seismic response of the dam. The analyses are performed in time domain with a linearly elastic constitutive model for the medium. This modeling procedure has been validated by the results reported in the existing literature. According to the results of this study, the response of the dam to earthquake waves is generally influenced by predominant frequency of the incident motion, surface topography, relative distance of observation points, and type of the incident seismic wave. For the cases considered, the incident SV wave has led to the maximum amplification of incident motions, especially at the left side of the dam. The results indicate that the proposed procedure can be employed for accurate prediction of a dam response during an earthquake.