DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF GRAVITY DAMS USING IMPLICIT TIME INTEGRATION

Abstract

The objective of this work undertaken for thesis is to carry out a dynamic analysis of gravity dams using the method of implicit time integration. The study has been confined to the plane—strain case of the non—overflow section of the dam. Finite. Element idealization of the dam and an appropriate segment of the foundation rock has been made. The study carried out here includes a comparison of the various~.implicit. methods of dynamic analysis. In addition to the commonly used Newmark and_W.il.aon_.s-ohemes, a relatively new scheme proposed by Hilber has been used for analysis. The effect of varying the. numerical damping. inherently present in each one of the implicit schemes has been studied. To reduce stresses in the dams subjected to dynamic loads, gravity dam sections with light structural systems at the top have been studied. Thus an idealised triangular section and a hollow section of the dam have been analysed and the results compared with the actual section of the dam. In addition to the above work, a foundation structure interaction analysis of dams has been carried out,. The effect of varying the mesh size on the response of the dam has been observed.