Numerical Investigation of Variable Uplift Pressure Distribution at the Level of Earthquake-Induced Acceleration at the Crack Location of the Concrete Dam Body

Mardookhpour, Alireza; Mohammadalizadeh, Saeid; Marhamati, Amirmohammad

doi:10.22059/ceij.2025.383599.2169

Numerical Investigation of Variable Uplift Pressure Distribution at the Level of Earthquake-Induced Acceleration at the Crack Location of the Concrete Dam Body

Articles in Press

Authors

Civil Engineering Department, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran

10.22059/ceij.2025.383599.2169

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of uplift pressure, taking into account pore water pressure and its variable distribution, on the nonlinear dynamic response of a concrete gravity dam during near and far-fault earthquakes using a 2D numerical model.During dam body analysis, crack growth initiated from the dam surface across all three accelerograms, and spread at the geometric failure point. Cracks on both sides of the area between the dam surface and the geometric failure point experienced significant tensile damage. A comparison between dam crest lateral displacements based on three selected accelerograms indicated that the maximum lateral displacement occurred at the Morgan Hill accelerogram at 11 centimeters. Moreover, a comparison of dam crest vertical displacements based on the three selected accelerograms showed that the maximum value was recorded at the Northridge accelerogram at 4 centimeters, while the minimum displacement was found at the Loma Prieta accelerogram at 3 centimeters. Comparison of pore water pressure during the earthquake between the heel and toe of the dam based on three selected accelerograms revealed that the maximum pore water pressure was recorded at Morgan Hill accelerogram at 0.065 megapascals, with the maximum pressure for the other two accelerograms being recorded at approximately 0.064 megapascals.

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