Failure analysis of a cracked concrete gravity dam under earthquake

Abstract A dynamic contact model for simulating the interaction of two surfaces divided by a dam crack, and a simplified reinforcing steel constitutive model for simulating the effect of earthquake-resistant reinforcement on a cracked dam are developed in this study. After the verification of the dynamic contact model and the reinforcing steel constitutive model by illustrations, the JINANQIAO roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam is investigated with two case scenarios: a straight crack case and a curving crack case scenarios, including their dam–foundation–reservoir interaction, respectively. Emphasis is paid to analysing the failure process of the cracked dam with and without reinforcement. Results show that the cracked dam maintains a large safety margin, and the curving crack is beneficial to the improvement of earthquake resistance. Commonly applied steel reinforcement measures can effectively decrease the sliding displacement and the joint opening of the cracked dam; however, the layout of the reinforcing steel and its quantity to be used needs particular consideration.