Numerical simulation of shaking table test on concrete gravity dam using plastic damage model

The shaking table tests were conducted on two small-scale models (Model 1 and Model 2) to examine the earthquake-induced damage of a concrete gravity dam, which has been planned for the construction with the recommendation of the peak ground acceleration of the maximum credible earthquake of 0.42 g. This study deals with the numerical simulation of shaking table tests for two small-scale dam models. The plastic damage constitutive model is used to simulate the crack/damage behavior of the bentonite-concrete mixture material. The numerical results of the maximum failure acceleration and the crack/damage propagation are compared with experimental results. Numerical results of Model 1 showed similar crack/damage propagation pattern with experimental results, while for Model 2 the similar pattern was obtained by considering the modulus of elasticity of the first and second natural frequencies. The crack/damage initiated at the changing point in the downstream side and then propagated toward the upstream side. Crack/damage accumulation occurred in the neck area at acceleration amplitudes of around 0.55 g similar to 0.60 g and 0.65 g similar to 0.675 g for Model 1 and Model 2, respectively.