Seismic damage assesment at a coupled dam system using DCRs

Abstract

The seismic damage assessment of arch dams such as dam-reservoir-foundations interaction is evaluated in accordance with displacements, stresses, demand-capacity ratios (DCR) and the cumulative inelastic duration. The DCR for arch dams is described as the ratio of the calculated arch to tensile strength of the concrete used in the dam. The dam is considered to exhibit nonlinear response in the form of opening and closing of contraction joints and cracking of the horizontal joints and concrete. The nonlinear analysis of the coupled system under earthquake record would be required for more accurate estimate of the damage. Thus, DCRs should be determines for different earthquake records before making a decision on the controlling and designing of existing and new arch dams.