The Effects of Saturated Sediment Layer on Seismic Wave Motion of Gravity Dams

Sediment layer can change the dynamic property of reservoir water. As a result, the dynamic response of dam body would be affected. In this paper, the sediment layer is simulated as saturated liquid-solid two-phase media, and the finite element model of gravity dam-reservoir water-sediment system is established with the gradual enlargement mesh method. Then the influence of sediment layer on seismic wave motion is studied with this model. The calculation result shows that the energy radiation of far field of foundation, reservoir water and sediment can be considered efficiently in this model, and with the thickening of sediment layer the dynamic water pressure on dam face decreases.