Numerical simulation of damage in high arch dam due to earthquake

Based on the assumption that concrete is macroscopic homogeneous, the cracking evolution process and damage mode of high arch dams are studied in consideration of the heterogeneity of concrete in mesoscale. The bilinear damage evolution model and the damage evolution model expressed in power function with descending section are adopted to combine with the Mohr-Coulomb criterion to investigate the crack development and fracture mode of high arch dams under the action of an earthquake. The analysis result of a high arch dam in China under design shows that cracks that take place in concrete are caused by excessive tensile stress. The cracks initiate at the middle of the dam top and distribute at the upper half of the dam while the rest of the parts remain intact. This conclusion agrees with the model test result.