Boundary Finite-Element Method Coupling Finite-Element Method for Steady-State Analyses of Dam-Reservoir Systems

Abstract

The boundary finite-element method (BFEM) is extended for steady-state analyses of dam-reservoir system problems. In this study, the dam is assumed to be rigid and subjected to horizontal ground motions, and the liquid in the reservoir is assumed to be semiinfinite. The semiinfinite reservoir domain is partitioned into two subdomains: a near-field domain and a far-field domain. In it, the near-field domain is modeled by using the finite-element method (FEM), whereas the far-field domain is modeled by BFEM and is treated as a layered semiinfinite fluid domain. A BFEM/FEM coupling procedure is employed to solve the steady-state response of the reservoir. The coupling procedure is easy to implement and suitable for all frequencies, be it real or complex. The BFEM/FEM coupling procedure is validated in the frequency domain. Numerical results that are based on the present procedure are in good agreement with analytical and other available numerical solutions.