Analysis of ultimate seismic capacity of full reservoir basin impermeable panel dams

Abstract In this paper, the ultimate seismic capacity of a full reservoir basin impermeable panel dam is analyzed in depth from the aspects of dam slope stability, seismic residual deformation, panel stress, and geomembrane and joint deformation, in combination with conventional ultimate seismic indexes. The key parameters, such as minimum safety factor, cumulative slip, permanent deformation of dam body, panel stress, geomembrane tension, and joint dislocation under different seismic peak accelerations, were calculated using a finite element dynamic time course analysis. The results show that from the perspective of dam slope stability, the ultimate seismic capacity of the full reservoir basin impermeable panel dam is 0.40~0.50 g; from the perspective of dam body seismic subsidence rate, the ultimate seismic capacity is 0.50g~0.60g; and from the perspective of panel safety, the ultimate seismic capacity is likewise 0.50~0.60 g. The research in this paper provides a guide or a reference for the evaluation of the seismic capacity of similar projects.