Performance based earthquake engineering of concrete dams

Hariri-Ardebili, M A (2015) Performance based earthquake engineering of concrete dams. PhD thesis, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA.

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis is to develop a framework for performance based earthquake engineering (PBEE) of concrete dams. To pursue this goal, this study first develops an extended and quantitative version of potential failure mode analysis (PFMA) for concrete dams. Different failure modes are investigated for all types of concrete dams. A Matlab-based code is developed for probabilistic performance assessment of concrete dams (PPACD). This code is used for assessment of concrete dams within the context of PBEE. A probabilistic seismic demand model (PSDM) is proposed for concrete dams based on cloud analysis methodology. The outcome of PSDM is selection of optima intensity measure (IM) parameters for gravity dams. Then, the sensitivity and uncertainty of dam-foundation system is quantified under the mixed-mode fracture of zero-thickness interface joint element. Capacity and fragility curves are derived for most sensitive random variables. This research also examined the performance of the dam under incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). First, the anatomy of a single-record IDA is studied and contrasted by framed structures. Then, the collapse fragility curves are derived for single and multiple-component ground motions. The impact of epistemic uncertainty is investigated in addition to the aleatoric one. Finally, a multi-scale damage index (DI) is proposed for gravity dams which is a function of crest displacement, crack ratio, and dissipated energy. Using this hybrid DI, a computationally simple but effective methodology is proposed for progressive failure analysis of dams. In all cases, first the methodology is discussed and then, a numerical example illustrates the details

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Thesis advisor: Saouma, V E
Uncontrolled Keywords: failure; uncertainty; earthquake
Index terms: performance-based, failure analysis, methodology, thickness, performance assessment, earthquake, failure mode
Subjects: environmental hazards, assessment methods, research methods, reliability engineering, materials science, performance measurement, diagnostic methods
Topics: Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Quality Management, Research Practice, Human Resources, Digital Applications
Descriptive scope: 4 PCTA

N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here