Application of direct computing of one-way coupling technique in seismic analysis of concrete gravity dam

A dam-reservoir system subjected to an earthquake is a nonlinear system, because the fluid equations are always nonlinear regardless of the linear or nonlinear model used for the dam body. Therefore, transient analysis is necessary. In this study, dam-reservoir interaction during earthquake excitation was modeled by utilizing coupled finite element equations based on the Eulerian approach. Direct computing of the one-way coupling technique was used to solve the coupled equations. This technique is based on a simple assumption that the fluid hydrodynamic pressure is applied to the dam body while the deformation of the dam has no influence on the water field. Seismic response analysis of the Sonla concrete gravity dam constructed in Sonla Province, Vietnam was carried out as a verification example. The results of the methodology introduced are in close agreement with results of the iterative method and the solution procedure is found to be less time-consuming than that of the iterative method. This method is very convenient and can be easily implemented in finite element programs with fluid-structure interaction modules.