Coupled Analysis of Arch Dam Using Trial Load Technique and Displacement Compatibility-Based Finite Element Method

In the coupled analysis of arch dam with trial load method and finite element method, the author presents a new method to solve the incompatibility of the nodal displacement at dam-foundation interface. The translation and rotation displacement of the arch-cantilever base nodes on the interface between dam and foundation are interpolated by the translation displacement of the finite element nodes which have relation with those base nodes. A new relationship between the translation and rotation displacement of arch-cantilever nodes and the translation displacement of finite element nodes is derived. The stiff coefficients about the displacements of the base nodes are transformed into the stiff matrix of the finite elements. After assembling all stiff matrixes, the total equilibrium equation can be established and solved. An example about typical cylindrical arch dam proves correctness and feasibility of the proposed method.