In this paper, seismic analyses of Pine Flat Concrete dam performed as part of theme A in the 15th benchmark workshop are presented. The results presented focuses on differences between mass and massless foundation and the influence from non-linear material behavior. The analyses performed with mass foundation using analytical free field input records and infinite boundary elements corresponded with the expected free surface results, for lower frequencies. For higher frequencies some discrepancies caused by the influence from the dam and the reservoir as expected. The corresponding analyses with massless foundation showed significantly higher accelerations but good agreement with the expected free surface displacement at the dam toe. To consider the influence from nonlinear material behavior, a dynamic push-over analysis (endurance time acceleration function, ETAF) was performed. It was possible to perform the analysis for the full duration of the record, despite significant non-linear material behavior. The initial damage occurred at the upstream toe and then showed significant induced damage as the level of excitation successively increased. In the end of the analysis, the top of the dam is cracked through which would cause an instability failure of the top of the dam.

Concrete buttress dams could potentially be susceptible to high-frequency vibrations, especially in the cross-stream direction, due to their slender design. Previous studies have mainly focused on low-frequency vibrations in stream direction using a simplified foundation model with the massless method, which does not consider topographic amplifications. This paper therefore investigates the nonlinear behaviour of concrete buttress dams subjected to high-frequency excitations, considering cross-stream vibrations. For comparison, the effect of low-frequency excitations is also investigated. The influence of the irregular topography of the foundation surface on the amplification of seismic waves at the foundation surface and thus in the dam is considered by a rigorous method based on the domain-reduction method using the direct finite element method. The sensitivity of the calculated response of the dam to the free-field modelling approach is investigated by comparing the result with analyses using an analytical method based on one-dimensional wave propagation theory and a massless approach. Available deconvolution software is based on the one-dimensional shear wave propagation to transform the earthquake motion from the foundation surface to the corresponding input motion at depth. Here, a new deconvolution method for both shear and pressure wave propagation is developed based on an iterative time-domain procedure using a one-dimensional finite element column. The examples presented showed that topographic amplifications of high-frequency excitations have a significant impact on the response of this type of dam. Cross-stream vibrations reduced the safety of the dam due to the opening of the joints and the increasing stresses. The foundation modelling approach had a significant impact on the calculated response of the dam. The massless method produced unreliable results, especially for high-frequency excitations. The free-field modelling with the analytical method led to unreliable joint openings. It is therefore recommended to use an accurate approach for foundation modelling, especially in cases where nonlinearity is considered.

Buried pipelines are tubular structures that cross large areas with different geological conditions. During an earthquake, imposed loads from soil deformations on pipelines may cause drastic damages. In this study two dimensional finite element models of pipelines and surrounding soils are usedfor simulation of seismic waves that propagate from the bedrock through thesoil. The models describe both longitudinal and transverse cross-sections ofpipelines and the soil-pipe interaction is described as a nonlinear behaviour.The effects of uniform ground with different burial depth and soil layer thickness, soil stiffness and non-uniform ground on the seismic response of reinforced concrete pipelines is studied. Two earthquakes, with high and low frequency contents, are employed for the dynamic analysis. The results show asignificant effect on the response due to non-uniform ground caused by inclined bedrock, especially for high frequency earthquake excitations.

In a reaction turbine, the runner outlet is connected to a diffuser which is called the draft tube. Large hydropower units with large effect and large discharge normally require large dimensions on the waterways. In some large-scale facilities, the total width of the draft tube is so large there is a need for a supporting centre wall in the draft tube. In the Swedish hydropower business, there are several cases where damages or cracks have been reported in the contact between the roof and the supporting centre wall. The most likely reason for cracking between wall and roof is when refilling the draft tube after it has been drained for inspection. A too quick refilling will give an upwards lifting force on the roof that can be larger than the capacity in the joint. There are still uncertainties regarding the risk for a long-term scenario where any operational pattern could give continued crack propagation.

Vattenfall Hydropower has made an installation with pressure and strain sensors in one of their facilities with a centre wall supported draft tube and a cavity between the roof and the rock cavern. The aim of the project is to get a better understanding on the behaviour of the roof and centre wall during different operational events by evaluating measurements from the draft tube and investigating possible load cases that can create continued crack propagation during operation. In this regard, in this project, the measurements are analysed to discover the different operational patterns and the corresponding effect on applied pressure on draft tube central wall and roof and structure response. A simplified finite element model of the draft tube is demonstrated and the response from the structure due to extracted load patterns is compared with the measurements.

One-year measurements of the unit operation indicated that unit operates over the whole range with many start/stops. Three major types of operation were: normal operation (working in daytime and downtime at night), continuous operation with no stop and start-stop events with sharp start/stop in the morning and afternoon. The analysis of pressure measurements indicated that the fluid motion in the straight diffuser is turbulent and possibly influenced by vortex formation under the runner. Therefore, the pressure on the right side of the central wall was higher than on the left side.

The quality of the strain measurements showed to be of insufficient quality and lack of information regarding the set-up. This has given questions on the possibility to get reliable results in the evaluation. Nevertheless, an evaluation has been performed. The evaluation of strain measurements demonstrated higher strain values at the upstream side of the central wall and roof. Moreover, the strain on underside of the roof was higher than on the central wall. Sudden fluctuation during continuous operation and sequence of start/stop were the cases that in long-term may cause damage to the structure due to fatigue problems. The results from finite element model indicated high tensile strength at the upstream side of the straight diffuser, in contact between the roof and the central wall where a crack has been detected in the real structure.

Buried reinforced concrete pipelines are widelyused in e.g. water and wastewater systems. Failure of these infrastructures mayresult in drastic effects and recently they have been brought into focus asvital components in safety systems for nuclear power installations. The highlevel of safety has here lead to a demand for reliable earthquake risk analyses.In this paper, methods are compared and the use of seismic design loadsdemonstrated. FE analysis in 2D of soil-pipe interaction under seismic wavepropagation is performed. The performance of concrete pipes subjected toseismic waves with different frequency content is evaluated with respect todifferent soil condition but also water mass effect.