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Dynamic Numerical Analysis of the Mazar Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam in Ecuador – South America

  • D. Velez
  • , C. Romanel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The catastrophic effects of earthquakes that frequently hit the West coast of South America has motivated this research. The country of Ecuador, situated on the subduction border of the South American and Nazca tectonic plates, has a high seismic exposure. Since the Mw = 7.8 earthquake that occurred on April 16th, 2016, the assessment of stability conditions of dams has become a high priority for the Ecuadorian government. The concrete faced rockfill dam (CFRD) of Mazar, an essential structure for the country, is classified as a large dam by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). In this research, the numerical seismic analysis of Mazar dam was carried out, including the generation of artificial earthquakes based on acceleration spectra established by Ecuadorian standards. Other aspects related to the dam behavior were also investigated, such as the static and pseudo static stability conditions and the maximum permanent displacements determined by simplified methods. An important conclusion from the 2D numerical analysis is the influence of topographic amplification, which is not taken into account when simplified methods based on 1D wave propagation are used.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationChallenges and Innovations in Geomechanics - Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of IACMAG - Volume 2
EditorsMarco Barla, Alice Di Donna, Donatella Sterpi
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages710-717
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9783030645175
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event16th International Conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, IACMAG 2021 - Turin, Italy
Duration: 5 May 20218 May 2021

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Volume126
ISSN (Print)2366-2557
ISSN (Electronic)2366-2565

Conference

Conference16th International Conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, IACMAG 2021
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityTurin
Period5/05/218/05/21

Keywords

  • CFRD mazar ecuador
  • Earthquake
  • Rockfill dam

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