NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Experimental Investigation of the Nonlinear Seismic Response of Concrete Gravity Dams.
- File
- PB91170118.pdf
- Author(s)
- Donlon, W. P.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.; Bechtel Corp., San Francisco, CA., January 9, 1989, 141 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- EERL-89-01
- Abstract
- The nonlinear seismic response of concrete gravity dams is investigated experimentally through the use of small-scale models. Of primary interest is crack formation, crack opening and closing, and sliding along crack planes. Also of concern is the stability of the structure after cracking. Three small-scale models (length scale = 115) of a single monolith of Pine Flat Dam are tested to determine the extent of such behavior and its effect on structural stability. The models are constructed of one polymer-based and two plaster-based materials developed for these experiments. The plaster-based materials fulfill the strength, stiffness, and density requirements established by the laws of similitude, while the polymer-based material fulfills only the stiffness and density requirements and is used only in the lower part of the dam where cracking is not expected. The excitation is a modified version of the NOOE component of the 1940 Imperial Valley earthquake, applied to each model's base in the stream direction through a vibration table with high-frequency capability. Tests are performed with and without water in the reservoir.
- Keywords
- ; Cracking (Fracturing); Scale models; Nonlinear problems; Gravity dams; Earthquake engineering; Theses; Seismic effects; Concrete dams; Dynamic structural analysis