Earthquake analysis of arch dam with joints including dam-foundation rock nonlinear dynamic interaction

The influence of contraction joints in arch dams on the seismic response analysis under strong earthquake is all very obvious. Existing models simulating the contact process of joints used in the seismic response analysis of arch dams, such as Fenves' model and Dowlings' model, are based on the penalty parameter method. It is difficult to determine the penalty parameters and in addition, the effect of dam-foundation dynamic interaction has not yet been considered in the analyses methods by the models stated above, and it is difficult to consider the two effects together by the frequency domain methods. Therefore, a combination method in the time domain of the explicit FEM and a transmitting boundary have been proposed for the earthquake analysis of arch dams by X.L., Du et al (2002). In this paper, the first effect stated above is studied by introducing a contact force model into the combination method. Finally, some results have been obtained by using this approach for the designed Xiaowan arch dam with maximum height of 292m in China.