Hydrodynamic Interaction Effects in Earthquake Response of Arch Dams

With the aid of earthquake response results it is demonstrated that the following hydrodynamic effects should be considered in the analysis of the earthquake response of concrete arch dams: dam-water interaction, water compressibility, and reservoir boundary absorption. The dam selected for this investigation is Morrow Point Dam, located on the Gunnison River in Colorado. It is a 465-ft high, approximately symmetric, single centered arch dam. As the objective of this work is to investigate only the hydrodynamic effects in the earthquake response of arch dams, the dam-foundation rock interaction effects are not included, i.e. the foundation rock underneath and surrounding the dam is assumed to be rigid.