Determination of 3D near fault seismic behaviour of Oroville earth fill dam using burger material model and free field-quiet boundary conditions

ABSTRACT In this study, the three-dimensional (3D) near-fault earthquake performance of the Oroville dam is examined considering a special material model and various seismic boundary conditions. The 3D finite-difference model of the Oroville EF dam is modeled using the finite difference method. Burger Creep (BC) material model is utilized for the foundation and dam body materials. Special interface elements are taken into account between the dam body and foundation. Fix, free field, and quiet seismic boundary conditions are considered for 3D nonlinear earthquake analyses. Total six various strong near-fault earthquakes are used in the 3D analyses. According to the non-linear earthquake analyses, principal stresses, horizontal and vertical displacements for three nodal points are assessed in detail and numerical results are compared for reflecting and non-reflecting seismic boundary conditions. It is clearly understood that seismic boundary conditions should not be utilized randomly for 3D modeling and analysis of EF dams.