Comparative Study of the Dynamic Response of Concrete Gravity Dams Subjected to Underwater and Air Explosions

Abstract

The response of dam structures subjected to explosion shock loading is a key element in assessments for the dam antiknock safety and antiterrorism applications. The physical processes during an explosive detonated in underwater/air and the subsequent response of structures are extremely complex, involving many complex issues such as the explosion, shock wave propagation, shock wave–structure interaction, and structural response. In addition, there exists a significant contrast in wave propagation phenomena in the water and the air medium due to their different physical properties and interface phenomena. In this paper, a fully coupled numerical approach with combined Lagrangian and Eulerian methods is used to simulate the dynamic responses of a concrete gravity dam subjected to underwater and air explosions. The shock wave propagation characteristics from explosions in water and air are simulated and compared. The damage profiles of concrete gravity dams subjected to underwater and air explosions are discussed. The influence of the blast loading from explosions in water and air on the dynamic response and the damage of the dam is also investigated. The analysis results show that a submerged explosion causes significantly more damage to the dam in water than the same mass of explosive in air.