Simulation of the seismic response of an arch dam

Abstract

This thesis reports on a research programme involving the analytical simulation of the recorded response of the Pacoima Dam in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. The research programme comprised of two stages, the first involved the selection and development of System Identification techniques that may be used in the calibration of models for the seismic analysis of arch dams. The second stage involved the application of these system identification techniques in the finite element analysis of the Pacoima Dam. The study was undertaken in recognition of the need for the verification and calibration of analysis programs that would enable the effective use of these programs in the evaluation of the performance of arch dams in large earthquakes. The research programme identified or developed System Identification processes for the calibration of arch dam models for modal data, for the evaluation of the modal properties of arch dam systems from earthquake or forced vibration test response records, and for the calibration of finite element models of arch dam systems from response records. A study carried out to determine the response characteristics of Pacoima Dam during the Northridge Earthquake provided significant information on the behaviour of arch dams in large earthquakes. Using this information, an analytical simulation response of the Pacoima Dam was performed using relatively simple 3-D finite element modelling and analysis. The keys to the success of this simulation were the modelling of abutment response and the calibration of the model using the developed system identification techniques.