Seismic response analysis of arch dam-water-rock foundation systems

The effect of water compressibility on the seismic responses of arch dams is not well understood. In this paper, a numerical model is developed with rigorous representation of the dynamic interaction between arch dam-waterrock foundation. The model is applied to the seismic response analysis of an arch dam with a height of 292m designed to a seismic intensity of IX. It is shown that consideration of the water compressibility clearly decreases the stress responses at key positions of the dam, while the added mass model gives a conservative estimate.