Seismic responses of high concrete face rockfill dams: A case study

• Published in: Water Science and Engineering Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 195 - 204
• Main Authors: Chen, Sheng-shui, Fu, Zhong-zhi, Wei, Kuang-ming, Han, Hua-qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2016; Geotechnical Engineering Department, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210024, China; Elsevier
• Subjects: CFRD; Concrete; Concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD); Construction; Construction joint; dam; element; face; Finite; Finite element method; joint; method; Permanent; Permanent strain; response; rockfill; Seismic; Seismic response; strain; Viscoelastic; Viscoelastic model; Zipingpu; Construction joint; Finite element method; Zipingpu; Viscoelastic model; Permanent strain; Concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD); Seismic response
• ISSN: 1674-2370; 2405-8106; 2405-8106
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wse.2016.09.002

Seismic responses of the Zipingpu concrete face rockfill dam were analyzed using the finite element method. The dynamic behavior ofrockfill materials was modeled with a viscoelastic model and an empirical permanent strain model. The relevant parameters were obtained eitherby back analysis using the field observations or by reference to parameters of similar rockfill materials. The acceleration responses of the dam,the distribution of earthquake-induced settlement, and the gap propagation under the concrete slabs caused by the settlement of the dam wereanalyzed and compared with site investigations or relevant studies. The mechanism of failure of horizontal construction joints was also analyzedbased on numerical results and site observations. Numerical results show that the input accelerations were considerably amplified near the top ofthe dam, and the strong shaking resulted in considerable settlement of the rockfill materials, with a maximum value exceeding 90 cm at the crest.As a result of the settlement of rockfill materials, the third-stage concrete slabs were separated from the cushion layer. The rotation of thecantilever slabs about the contacting regions, under the combined action of gravity and seismic inertial forces, led to the failure of the constructionjoints and tensile cracks appeared above the construction joints. The effectiveness and limitations of the so-called equivalent linearmethod are also discussed.