Performance of Concrete Gravity Dam with Different Height of Dam and Water Level Under Seismic Loadings

Abstract

This research investigates the performance of the concrete gravity dam with a height of 50, 75, 100 and 125 m with different height of water level using incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). IDA is a method using the scaled ground motions record to evaluate the structure demand of dam. In the selection of ground motions, the following criteria must be achieved: (i) the distance of earthquake event to the station is less than 15 km, (ii) the earthquake magnitude is equal to or more than 5.5 (Mw) and (iii) the peak ground acceleration is equal to or greater than 0.15 g. The seven ground motions histories are converted to response spectrum and it is scaled to obtain the elastic response spectrum. The limit states of the dam were based on the cracking schemes and maximum displacement from IDA. The average maximum crest displacement for yielding and the ultimate limit of the dam with full water level is lower, the same goes to the limit states in terms of PGA is higher. The higher dam, the greater the average maximum crest displacement, the lower the limit states in terms of PGA. The cracking for the dam with full water level initiates at the heel of the dam as the existence of high hydrostatic pressure.