Seismic Stability of Detached Concrete Block of Concrete Gravity Dam

Abstract eng:
Ultimate state of a dam can be defined by its function of keeping the ponded water under control. An existing crack can penetrates the dam before subsequent earthquakes may form a detached concrete block. It is indisputable that the seismic stability of the block is very important for keeping the ponded water under control. Analytical procedures are developed to determine the motion of a free-standing block subjected to horizontal ground acceleration, slide, rock, rock-slide as well as impact when it rocks back and forth. The results reveal that the block begins to slide before the first impact even though it starts in a pure rocking mode. Numerical method FEM has been used to solve this large displacement contact problem of free-standing block. Analytical and numerical results consist with each other well. In consequence, the dynamic responses of a concrete gravity dam with crack at upper position forming a detached block are studied with FEM procedure. Its stability is studied for two types of cracks and the results indicate that the detached block of a dam of Type B crack is more vulnerable to be overturned by horizontal ground motion.

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