Seismic Analysis of Rockfill Dam, A Case Study of Ghoocham Dam

Ghoocham dam is 45 m height ECRFD type with a vertical clay core and soft alluvial and rock foundation under construction in west of Iran. The study of the seismic response of rockfill dams is a complex problem that generally requires the use of dynamic methods of analysis. The non-linear analysis is established to calculate the permanent deformation caused by the earthquake. In this paper, the seismic analysis of Ghoocham dam based on non-linear approach is presented. The dynamic analyses were conducted as non-linear two-dimensional analyses using the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC) computer code. The initial condition of stress and pore pressure is performed for the steady state condition. The initial condition of stress and pore pressure calculated in construction stage was performed for analysis at steady state condition. Time-acceleration histories of two different earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.9 in Richter scale and the maximum peak acceleration (PGA) of 0.47g were applied in analysis. The maximum deformation and the failure pattern are obtained through the non-linear analysis.The analysis results show that permanent deformation is in the acceptable range and stability of dam is secured after the earthquake.