Sensitivity Analysis of Seismic Performance of Roller Compacted Concrete Dam to Body Stiffness using Monte Carlo Method

In this research, consider to the importance of the effect of concrete strength on dynamic behavior of concrete dams, the effect of body concrete stiffness on seismic performance of roller compacted concrete (RCC) dams is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation which is the effective method for evaluation of different parameters on dynamic responses. For implementation of concrete stiffness, the modus of elasticity is considered as input parameter and its effect on output parameters including maximum response of dam crest displacement, 1st principle stress at heel, 3rd principle stress at toe and hydrodynamic pressure at heel of dam selected as critical responses is investigated. Ansys software, based on finite element method, was selected for dam modeling and seismic analysis and Nemark method has been used to solve the dynamic equation. Watana dam has been selected as case study and has been modeled in the 2-dimensional form and dam-reservoir-foundation interaction considered in model. Finally, to show the effect of modulus of elasticity of dam concrete, the responses were obtained as sensitivity curves. Obtained curves show the trend of responses to variation of modulus of elasticity obviously. According to results, one can select the optimum value of modulus of elasticity of concrete and concluded about the safety of dam consider to design criteria.