Seismic analysis of arch dams - A Continuum Damage Mechanics approach

In this paper, the non-linear seismic response of arch dams is presented using the concept of Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM). The analysis is performed using the finite element technique and appropriate non-linear material and damage models in conjunction with the alpha-algorithm for time marching. Because of the non-linear nature of the discretizied equations of motion, modified Newton-Raphson approach has been used at each time step. Damage evolution based on tensile principal strain using mesh-dependent hardening modulus technique is adopted to ensure the mesh objectivity and to calculate the accumulated damage. The methodology employed is shown to be computationally efficient and consistent in its treatment of both damage growth and damage propagation. As an application of the proposed formulation, a double curvature arch dam has been analysed and the results are compared with the solutions from linear analysis and it is shown that the structural response of arch dams varies significantly in terms of damage evolution. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.