Seismic Response of Embankment Dams with Asphalt–Concrete Cores Based on the Three-Dimensional Time-Domain Inversion of Ground Motions

Abstract

In this paper, the three-dimensional time-domain inversion of ground motions and its application are performed. The relationship between the incident wave time series and design ground motions is established, and the oblique incident wave time history is inverted. Subsequently, the free field is constructed based on the three-dimensional inversion of ground motions as an accurate solution. The errors based on the one- and two-dimensional inversions relative to the three-dimensional inversion are analyzed, and the errors with the incident angles, site sizes, and material parameters are revealed. Finally, the seismic responses of a canyon and an embankment dam with asphalt–concrete core are studied. The results show that the three-dimensional inversion of ground motions considers the oblique incidence angles, and the constructed three-dimensional nonuniform ground motions are more comprehensive. With regard to the core wall, the acceleration amplification effect obtained based on the three-dimensional inversion is the most significant, and the tensile failure area is the largest. Compared with the three-dimensional inversion, the tensile stress based on the two- and one-dimensional inversions is reduced by 57.1% and 20%, respectively. Therefore, the influence of the three-dimensional inversion on the seismic responses should be considered during the seismic designing of dams near faults.