2D Seismic Analysis of Pine Flat Concrete Gravity Dam Including Mass of Foundation: Approach with Infinite Elements

Abstract

Since 1991 the Committee on Computational Aspects of Analysis and Design of Dams within the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) organizes the bi-annual held Benchmark Workshops. The 15th Benchmark Workshop, held in Milan (Italy) is dedicated to three formulated themes as well as an open theme. Numerical studies on the seismic response of the highest monolith of Pine Flat Dam are defined in Theme A, which the present paper is focused on. Several numerical studies are part of Theme A, like modal analyses and transient seismic analyses in which the mass of the foundation is respected. Generally, 2D finite element models with plain strain formulation are used. To simulate a far field solution of the given problem, infinite elements are used for static and dynamic load cases. Furthermore, linear elastic material behavior is assumed together with the so-called concrete damaged plasticity model, a non-linear material model, which is applied to the dam body. To account for hydrodynamic effects due to seismic loading acoustic elements are coupled to the solid structural parts to enable the fluid-structure-interaction.