The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Shaking table research on concrete dam models

Niwa, Akira; Clough, Ray W.

UCB/EERC-80/05, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1980-09-01, 113 pages (530/N59/1980)

The basic purpose of this research was to investigate the feasibility of studying the nonlinear response of concrete arch dams on a 20 ft square shaking table. Assuming a length scale of 1/150, the authors developed a suitable model material of plaster, celite, sand, and lead powder. The proportions and properties of the adopted materials are listed. Shaking table tests are described of a segmented arch rib model designed of this material to simulate the monolith joint opening behavior of an arch dam. Also, the test of a model of Koyna Dam is mentioned; the model behavior simulated the reservoir cavitation mechanism and the observed cracking of the prototype. The principal conclusion of the investigation is that shaking table research is a practical means for studying the nonlinear earthquake response of concrete arch dams, including their actual failure mechanisms.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-80-05.pdf (6 MB)