Experimental evaluation of crack effects on the dynamic characteristics of a prototype arch dam using ambient vibration tests

Baris Sevim, Ahmet Can Altunisik and Alemdar Bayraktar

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the modal parameters of a prototype damaged arch dam by operational modal analysis (OMA) method for some damage scenarios. For this purpose, a prototype arch dam-reservoir-foundation model is constructed under laboratory conditions. Ambient vibration tests on the arch dam model are performed to identify the modal parameters such as natural frequency, mode shape and damping ratio. The tests are conducted for four test-case scenarios: an undamaged dam with empty reservoir, two different damaged dams with empty reservoirs, and a damaged dam with full reservoir. Loading simulating random impact effects is applied on the dam to crack. Cracks and fractures occurred at the middle of the upper part of the dams and distributed through the abutments. Sensitivity accelerometers are placed on the dams

Key Words

arch dam; ambient vibration test; damage scenario; enhanced frequency domain decomposition; stochastic subspace identification; modal parameter identification; operational modal analysis.

Address

Baris Sevim: Yildiz Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey; Ahmet Can Altunisik and Alemdar Bayraktar: Karadeniz Technical University, Department of Civil Engineering, Trabzon, Turkey

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