Estimation of Concrete Arch Dams Responses in Linear Domain Using Endurance Time Analysis Method

In this paper, Endurance Time Analysis (ETA) method which is a new time-history based dynamic pushover procedure is introduced and its application in linear analysis of concrete arch dams is investigated. In this method the structure is subjected to gradually intensifying acceleration functions and its performance is evaluated based on the length of the time duration that can satisfy required performance criteria. For this purpose Dez arch dam is selected as case study, fluid-structure interaction is taken into account and F.E. model of the system is excited in three performance levels. ETA method gives an approximation of maximum response at the equivalent target time, resulted from analyzing the system based on natural records. Extracted results are displacement, velocity and acceleration of the crest at crown cantilever. Results show using of ETA method can reduce at least 50% in number of analyses and 70% in total time of analyses at the current case. Furthermore, it is found that although the results of the ETA are not exactly consistent with the results of time-history analyses using real ground motions, errors are reasonable and ETA can identify performance levels of the dam with acceptable accuracy.