Influence of time‐domain dam–reservoir interaction on cracking of concrete gravity DAMS

Based on a non‐linear dam‐reservoir interaction model, a study investigating the earthquake response of concrete gravity dams is presented. For the propagation of cracks in unreinforced mass concrete, a discrete crack approach formulation based on the finite element method is applied. A special crack element is used to follow a fictitious crack in order to account for a zone of microcracks developing at the crack tip. The reservoir is modelled using the boundary element method. At a fictitious boundary dividing the irregular finite part of the reservoir from the regular infinite part, the loss of energy due to pressure waves moving away towards infinity is taken into account rigorously. Analyses are performed on the tallest non‐overflow monolith of the Pine Flat Dam located in Kern County, California. The interaction of a dam, which may exhibit cracks in mass concrete, with a reservoir domain of arbitrary geometry extending to infinity is studied. Some main parameters are investigated. The importance of tools capable of handling the non‐linear dam‐reservoir interaction is emphasized.