Integrative seismic safety evaluation of a high concrete arch dam

An integrative seismic safety evaluation of an arch dam should include all sources of nonlinearities, dynamic interactions between different components and the external loads. The present paper investigates the calibration procedure and nonlinear seismic response of an existing high arch dam. The first part explains the conducted analyses for the static and thermal calibrations of the dam based on site measurements. The second part investigates the nonlinear seismic analysis of the calibrated model considering the effect of joints, cracking of mass concrete, reservoir–dam–rock interaction, hydrodynamic pressure inside the opened joints and the geometric nonlinearity. Penetration of the water inside the opened joints accelerates the damage process. The integrative seismic assessment of a case study shows that the dam will fail under the maximum credible earthquake scenario. The dam is judged to be severely damaged with extensive cracking and the joints undergo opening/sliding. A systematic procedure is proposed for seismic and post-seismic safety of dams. •Detailed finite element model of a high arch dam is provided and calibrated.•Seismic and post-earthquake performance of the dam is evaluated using nonlinear model.•Material, geometry and joint nonlinearities are implemented in the finite element analysis.•Integrative behavior of the dam is evaluated by modeling water pressure inside the opened joints.•Dynamic foundation–dam interaction is taken into account.