Nonlinear Hydrodynamic Pressure on Rigid Dam Motion

A finite‐difference analysis was employed to calculate nonlinear hydrodynamic pressures on vertical and inclined faces of dams. Two idealized ground accelerations and an actual earthquake excitation were used as the prescribed boundary condition. This dynamic condition and the free surface profile were cast in a dimensionless form of the basic equations, making the moving boundary problem simpler in computational analysis. The effect of water compressibility could be augmented by the nonlinear effect. Comparison of the results between inviscid and viscous analyses reflected not only the insignificant viscous effect but also the potential numerical noise associated with the viscous solution.