Earthquake input

me chanis ms for
Comparison of 4 different
to input the motion time -domain analys is of
ways
1 rigid base
Massless foundation
dam-foundation s ys te ms
2
3 deconvolved base rock P. L~ge r and M. Boughoufalah

u free field De partm e nto f Civil Engine e ringand Applie d Me chanics ,McGill Unive rs ity, 817 S he rbrooke
S tre e t W e s t, Montre al, Que be c,Canada,H3A 2K6
(R e ce ive dJune 1988; re vis e dS e pte m be r1988)
ComparisonforEDeasey
The Seismic design of concrete darn-foundation-reservoir systems must
be able to ensure the survivability of these structures to extreme
magnitude earthquakes for which nonlinear behaviour can be expected.
This study is concerned with the evaluation of four different earthquake
input mechanisms that are suitable for time-domain analysis of dam-
foundation systems. These are the standard rigid-base input model, the
massless-foundation input model, the deconvolved-base-rock input
model, and the free-field dam-foundation interface input model. Para-
metric studies have been conducted by applying the four proposed
input mechanisms to simplified two-dimensional finite element models
of gravity dam-foundation systems. The principal parameters retained
in the analysis were the ratio of the modulus of elasticity between the
foundation and the concrete dam and the damping ratio of the
foundation. It was shown that the use of the standard rigid-base input
model is not acceptable, producing significant amplifications. The
deconvolved and the free-field input models produced very similar
results for the complete range of selected parameters. The massless-
foundation input model, although not as accurate as the deconvolved
and the free-field input models, can be used for practical analyses if a
proper modelling of the energy dissipation characteristics of the founda-
tion is provided in the mathematical formulation.

Keywords: dam, foundation, reservoir, earthquake

The proce dure sfor the s e is mica na lys is ,de s igna n d s a fe ty
e va lua tion o f concre te d a m s mus t be a ble to e ns ure the
s urviva bility o f the s e s tructure s in e xtre me -ma gnitude
e a rthqua ke s .The importa nce o f fo u n d a tio n inte ra ction
eon the b e h a vio u r o f concre te da ms unde r e a rth q u a ke
n g ro u n d m o tio n s ha s long be e n re cognize d. P re vious
r
w s tudie sha ve typica lly be e nm a d e in the fre que ncyd o m a in
OE b y us ing fo u n d a tio n mode ls ba s e d on a na lytica l ha lf-
z s pa ces olutions a n d line a rly e la s tic d a m mode ls in o rd e r
to ide ntify a nd qua ntify the e ffe cts o f critica l p a ra me -
E te rs 1-3. Ho we ve r, the ne e d to re pre s e nt n o n -h o m o -
ge ne ousge ome trica la n d ma te ria l fo u n d a tio n prope rtie s
E g E
a for which a na lytica l mode ls a re n o t a va ila ble , a nd the
w O ne e d to pre dict da ma ge s tha t a re ge ne ra lly due to
I w nonline a r e ffe cts imply tha t the s olution mus t be de te r-
s D ai mine d in the time d o m a in b y us ing a finite e le me nt
w y re pre s e nta tion o f the founda tion. S pe cific e a rth q u a ke
u tion inte rfa ce , which is dire ctly re la te d to the s liding
EE
input me cha nis ms ca n be a s s ocia te d with pa rticula r
fo u n d a tio n mode ls a n d it will be o b vio u s ly que s tiona ble
o f g ro u n d mo tio n s if the wa y in which the y a re a pplie d
ca n influe nce the s tructura l re s pons es ignifica ntly.
The p u rp o s e o f this p a p e r is to e va lua te the re la tive
pe rforma nceo f four diffe re nt e a rth q u a keinput me cha n-
is ms tha t a re s uita ble for time d o ma in a na lys is o f
d a m -fo u n d a tio n s ys te ms .The s e a re th e s ta n d a rd rigid-
ba s e input mode l, the ma s s le s s -founda tioninput mode l,
the de convolve d-ba s e -rock input mode l, a nd the fre e -fie ld
d a m -fo u n d a tio n inte rfa ce input mode l.
P a ra me tric s tudie s ha ve be e n pe rforme d b y a pplying
the p ro p o s e de a rth q u a keinput me cha nis msto s implifie d
two-dime ns iona lfinite e le me nt mode ls o f gra vity d a m -
founda tion s ys te ms . Time his torie s o f loca l d a ma g e
pa ra me te rs s uch a s noda l dis pla ce me nts ,a cce le ra tions
a nd e le me nts tre s s e sge ne ra lly us e d for the ide ntifica tion
o f loca lize d m o d e s o f fa ilure a nd o f a globa l d a ma g e
pa ra me te r,the s he a rforce de ve lope da t the d a m -fo u n d a -
s ta bility, we re c o m p u te d for va rious ra tios o f the moduli

Iiofto p u t a gre a t de a l o f e ffort in de fining the cha ra cte ris tics

0141-0296/89/01037-10/$03.00
o f e la s ticity of the d a m a nd the founda tion, a nd va rious

© 198g Butte rworth & Co (P ublis he rs ) Ltd

Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January 37
 Earthquake input mechanisms. P. Leger and M. Boughoufalah
le ve ls of d a m p in g provide d by the founda tion. S pe cific
ra nge so f mode llingpa ra me te rsfor which pa rticula rinput
me cha nis msa re more s uita ble for us e to a chie ve re lia ble
time -doma in s e is mic re s pons e of d a m fo u n d a tio n s ys -
te ms we re de te rmine d.
Mode ls for e arthquake input me chanisms
I Whe n the fo u n d a tio n is formula te d a s pa rt of the finite
e le me ntmode l, the e ffe ctive modulus of e la s ticity of the
re la tive ly limite d volume of rock th a t ca n be include d in
D the mode l from pra ctica l c o m p u ta tio n a lcons ide ra tions
is chos e ns uch th a t it will a pproxima te the fle xibility of
a s e mi-infinite rock body. In curre ntpra ctice ,the re a re no
38 pre cis e rule s for the loca tion of the fo u n d a tio n boun-
da rie s . A pos s ible a pproa ch is to move the bounda rie s
E o f the fo u n d a tio n block a wa y from the d a m in both the
fo la te ra l a n d ve rtica l dire ctions a n d e va lua te the d yn a m ic
B
N Q
re s pons echa ra cte ris ticsof the corre s pondings ys te muntil
a s ta biliza tionin the re s pons eis re a che d.The mode l ca n
or the n be a cce pte da s re pre s e nta tiveof the be ha viour of
du the phys ica ls ys te m. It s hould be note d th a t a re la tive ly
od s ma llfo u n d a tio nblock could be us e din the finite e le me nt
mode l if tra n s mittin g bounda rie s a re us e d. The mos t
fre que ntlyus e d tra ns mittingbounda rie sa re of the s imple
o vis cous type , a nd the y a re us ua lly more a ppropria te for
a fre que ncy-doma ina na lys is4.
The ma s s of the fo u n d a tio n mus t be s pe cifie d to be
cons is te ntwith the de finition of input ground a cce le ra -
tion. The s e is mic loa ding is norma lly de rive d from a
re corde d or s ynthe tic fre e -fie ld a cce te rogra m,~'g(t), de -
fine d to occur a t the top s urfa ce of the founda tion.The
four propos e d e a rth q u a ke input me cha nis ms ,a nd the
re la te d d a m -fo u n d a tio nmode ls a re s hown in Fi~,ure 1.
Mo d e l A : R ~ id -b a s e input 5"~'
In this mode l the s pe cifie d fre e -fie ld a cce le rogra mtime
his tory is a pplie d a t the rigid-ba s e -rock of the finite
e le me ntmode l. The s e ba s e motions propa ga teve rtica lly
th ro u g h the de forma blefo u n d a tio nrock, by e la s tic wa ve
me cha nis ms The. e a rth q u a ketha t re a che s the inte rfa ce
be twe e n the concre te da m a nd the fo u n d a tio n rock will
thus be diffe re nt, in fre que ncyconte nt a nd in inte ns ity,
a s compa re d with the motions produce d by the re a l
rigid-ba s e input which ha s its focus be ne a th the loca l
ba s e -rock.
F o r this mode l the e qua tion of d yn a m ic e quilibrium
ca n be writte n a s
[M]{U I + [C]{U} + [K]{U} = [M][r]{b b (t)} (I)
in which [M], [C] a nd [K] a re the finite e le me ntma s s ,
da mping a nd s tiffne s s ma trice s for the comple te d a m -
founda tion-re s e rvoirs ys te m, {U}, {U} a nd {~} a re
re s pe ctive ly the dis pla ce me nt,ve locity a n d a cce le ra tion

J
Model A Model B
Rigid-base input Massless foundation

}-
[Mf] 4= [0] Y [Mf] = [0] Y
~g (t) free-field acc. ~;g(t) free-field acc.

i • M

/~ -f/ rr p1¢ ~7'// l l / r l/ f~

free-field acc. vb (t) = ~g (t) free-field acc. Vb (t) = ~;g(t)

l
z

J
Model C Model D

Deconvolved acc. Free-field input

-¢
[Md #=[0] Y [Md ~ [0] Y

i~u (t) free-field acc. ~;g(t) free-field acc

I" ) TI
I ii
4.,p

I
ir fr~ f /ff ~ r r ~rJ, / / • Pl/"

vg (t) deconvolved acc. ~;b(t) = ~. (t)

Figure 1 Representation of the four proposed earthquake input mechanisms

38 Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January

 Earthquake input mechanisms: P. Lbger and M. Boughoufalah
ve ctors of the noda l points re la tive to the rigid-ba s e
pos ition, {i)b(t)} a re the s pe cifie d ba s e e a rth q u a ke a cce l-
e ra tion time his torie s ge ne ra lly de fine d a long the s truc-
tura l a xe s ,a nd [r] is the ma trix o f influe nce coe fficie nts ,
e xpre s s ing the noda l dis pla ce me ntsre s ulting from uni-
form dire ctiona l unit va lue s of the ba s e -rock dis pla ce -
me nts .
The a pplica tion of this rigid-ba s e input mode l is
re la tive ly s imple , be ca us eno modifica tion ha s to be m a d e
to the s pe cifie d a cce le rogra ms a nd a ls o be ca us e the
ma trice s re pre s e nting the phys ica l prope rtie s o f the
comple te d a m -fo u n d a tio n -re s e rvo irs ys te mca n be us e d
dire ctly. Howe ve r, the rigid-ba s e input mode l is not
e xpe cte d to give ve ry a ccura te re s ults , s ince the e a rth-
q u a ke a pplie d a t the ba s erock ha s be e na ctua lly re corde d
a t the g ro u n d s urfa ce .
Mo d e l B : Ma s s le s sfo u n d a tio n ro c k
This mode l wa s p ro p o s e d b y Clough in the la te 1970sv
a nd ha s be e n us e d e xte ns ive ly for two a nd thre e -
dime ns iona l s e is mic a na lys is o f concre te d a m s s ince
the n8 - ~ . The only diffe re nce with mode l A is tha t the
ide a lize d founda tion mode l is a s s ume dto be ma s s le s s .
This re s ults firs t in a re duction in the n u mb e r of dyna mic
de gre e s -of-fre e dom(DO F ) of the s ys te m. S e condly, the
a bs e nceo f ma s s ma ke s the founda tion rock function a s
a s pring, in o th e r wo rd s only the fle xibility o f the
founda tion rock is ta ke n into a ccount. Howe ve r, the us e
o f a finite e le me nt re pre s e nta tionfor the founda tion a s
o p p o s e dto the us e of Vogt coe fficie nts re ta ins the e ffe cts
of off-dia gona l s tiffne s s coupling o f the d a m -fo u n d a tio n
a llowing a more re a lis tic de s cription o f s tre s sconce ntra -
tion a t the inte rfa ce .
In the ma s s le s s founda tion input mode l, the rigid
ba s e -rockinput m o tio n s a re tra ns mitte d ins ta nta ne ous ly
through the fa u n d a tio n rock to the ba s e o f the da m,
without a ny wa ve p ro p a g a tio ne ffe cts .This will e limina te
the pote ntia l p ro b le m o f a rtificia l a mplifica tion o f the
fre e -fie ld a cce le rogra m,a s dis cus s e dfor mode l A. If the re
we re no d a m -fo u n d a tio n inte ra ction e ffe cts , the s a me
fre e -fie ld motions , a pplie d a t the ba s e rock, would be
obs e rve da t the s urfa ce o f the founda tion rock. It is thus
a p p ro p ria te to a pply the fre e -fie ld s urfa cemo tio n s a s the
e a rth q u a ke input a t the ba s e rock in this mode l. The
da mping o f the fo u n d a tio n rock in a bs e nceo f ma s s is
us ua lly ta ke n a s ze ro, b u t this ne gle cts the e ne rgy-los s
me cha nis msprovide d by the founda tion. Thus to a s s e s s
the e xte nt o f this e ffe ct, two ca s e sca n be cons ide re d in
the a na lys is : ma s s le s sfounda tion rock including da m-
ping, a nd ma s s le s sfo u n d a tio n ne gle cting da mping.
Ba s ica lly the a dva nta ge sof mode l A ca n be re s ta te d
for mode l B, which a re the s implicity of its a pplica tion
a nd the pos s ibility of us ing s ta n d a rd finite e le me nt
progra ms ,for the e a rth q u a ke -re p o n s ae na lys is . Furthe r-
more , the da m vibra tion prope rtie s will not be a ffe cte d
by the ma s s of the founda tion. If a la rge volume o f
1
founda tion rock with ma s s is include d in the mode l, it is
pos s ible tha t the vibra tion mode s o f the founda tion m a y
te nd to d o m in a te the d yn a mic re s pons eo f the d a m s uch
tha t the nume rica l s olution ca n b e c o mem o re cos tly a nd
difficult to imple me nt. It s hould a ls o be note d tha t the
volume o f fo u n d a tio n rock chos e n to pa rticipa te in the
re s pons eof the s ys te m is ofte n chos e n a rbitra rily by the
a na lys t.
Mode l B is e xpe cte dto give be tte r re s ults tha n mode l
A, b u t the ide a lize d founda tion rock with o u t ma s s doe s
n o t tota lly mode l the d a m -fo u n d a tio ninte ra ction me ch-
a nis ms a nd it is n o t ce rta in tha t the s ys te m fre que ncie s
give n b y this mode l will be tota lly va lid.
Mo d e l C." De c o n v o lv e db a s e -ro c k input 8' 12
A m o re re a lis tic a p p ro a c h to the proble m o f the e a rth-
q u a ke input me cha nis m is to de fine more a p p ro p ria te
rigid-ba s e -rock mo tio n s in e q u a tio n (1). This ca n be
a chie ve d by pe rforming a de convolution a na lys is to the
s pe cifie d fre e -fie ld a cce le rogra m.This is e quiva le nt to
computing the ba s e -rocka cce le rogra mwhich might ha ve
p ro d u c e d the fre e -fie ld a cce le rogra m,a fte r p ro p a g a tio n
through the de forma ble founda tion. The d e c o n vo lu tio n
a na lys is re quire s the a pplica tion o f s pe cia lize dc o m p u te r
progra ms to the fre e -fie ld s ys te m in o rd e r to de te rmine
the de convolve da cce le rogra mby the inve rs e a pplica tion
of the e qua tions o f wa ve propa ga tion. In o rd e r to ve rify
the a ccura cyo f the c o m p u te d ba s e -rocka cce le rogra m,a
s e pa ra tea na lys is ha s to be ma de . It cons is ts o f a pplying
the c o m p u te d de convolve da cce le rogra ma t the ba s e of
the finite e le me ntmode l, re pre s e ntingthe founda tion rock
a nd de riving the corre s pondingfre e -fie ld a cce le rogra m.
The c o m p u te d a nd the origina l fre e -fie ld a cce le rogra ms
a re the n c o m p a re d by me a ns o f the corre s ponding
ps e udo-a cce le ra tions pe ctra .
The re lia bility of re s pons ere s ults o b ta in e d from mode l
C, will obvious ly d e p e n d u p o n the qua lity o f the de con-
volution proce s s .Typica l s tructura l re s pons equa ntitie s
of inte re s t found by a pplying the de convolve da cce le ro-
gra m a t the rigid ba s e rock, s hould the ore tica lly be m o re
a ccura te tha n thos e o b ta in e d by a pplying mode ls A a nd
B. The ma in dis a dva nta geof mode l C is tha t the comple te
re s pons ea na lys is is ra the r te dious , s ince it involve s two
s e pa ra tea na lys e s .The firs t, the d e c o n vo lu tio n a na lys is ,
re quire s a s pe cia lize dc o m p u te rprogra m which ge ne ra lly
involve s s ome re s trictive a s s umptionson the na ture a nd
dire ction of s e is mic wa ve s a nd a ls o re quire s s ome form
of s e ns itivity a na lys isin o rd e r to be imple me nte dre lia bly.
The ma in a dva nta ge sa re tha t the d a m -fo u n d a tio ninte r-
a ction me cha nis ms will be we ll re pre s e nte d a nd the
e a rth q u a ke input mo tio n s will be tre a te d in a more
re a lis tic ma nne r.
Mo d e l D: Fre e -fie ld inputs 13.14
An a lte rna tive a p p ro a c h to the proble m o f de fining a n
a p p ro p ria te e a rth q u a ke input me cha nis m is to e xpre s s
the e ffe ctive s e is mic input in the e qua tions o f m o tio n of
the d a m -fo u n d a tio n s ys te m dire ctly in te rms o f the
fre e -fie ld mo tio n s re corde d a t the g ro u n d s urfa ce .
In this mode l the e qua tions o f d yn a mic e quilibrium
a re writte n a s is"
+ [C ]{b } + [K]{O } = -
- ( [M3 [7 3 + [O : : ]) {v g ( t ) } (2)
whe re [M], [C ] a nd [K] a re the us ua l s ys te m ma trice s
o f the comple te s ys te m, [Mgd] re pre s e nts the d a m -
founda tion ma s s coupling te rms a nd [Mj the d a m -
fo u n d a tio n inte rfa ce DO F , [? ] is the influe nce coe fficie nt
Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January 39
 Earthquake input mechanisms. P. Leger and M. Boughoufalah
m a trix e xpre s s ing the n o d a l d is p la c e m e n tso f the d a m
d u e to u n ifo rm unit d ire c tio n a l d is p la c e m e n tsa pplie d a t
the ba s e o f the d a m (not the ba s e rock). In this fo rm u la tio n
the d is p la c e m e n ts{U} a re the a d d e d m o tio n s with re s pe ct
to the fre e -fie ld re s pons e .
Th e fre e -fie ld in p u t m o d e l (mode l D) c a n be s e e n a s
a n im p ro ve d ve rs ion o f the ma s s le s sfo u n d a tio n m o d e l
(mode l B). In b o th m o d e ls B a n d D the o rig in a l fre e -fie ld
a c c e le ro g ra mwo u ld be obs e rve d in the a bs e nce o f the
d a m . In m o d e l B, this is a chie ve dby ne gle ctingthe ine rtia l
e ffe ct o f the fo u n d a tio n rock whe re a s in m o d e l D this is
d o n e s im p ly by re writtin g the e q u a tio n s o f m o tio n in
te rms o f the fre e -fie ld m o tio n s . Th u s the im p ro ve m e n tin
m o d e l D is th a t the m a s s o f the fo u n d a tio n rock is ta ke n

/
in to a c c o u n t in the a n a lys is s uch th a t it will re pre s e nt
the d a m fo u n d a tio n in te ra c tio n in a re la tive ly m o re
re a lis tic m a n n e r.
Th e m a in a s s u m p tio n sus e d in this m o d e l a re th a t the
in p u t m o tio n s a t the le ve l of the ba s e rock a re n o t
foiscthoants id e re dto be a ffe cte dby the pre s e nceo f the d a m a n d E
id a ll inte rfa ce n o d e s will be s ubje cte d to the s a me
g ogfre e -fie ld a c c e le ro g ra m. In th e o ry a n y de s ire d s pa tia l
na EI
g va ria tio n o f the fre e -fie ld c o m p o n e n tsc o u ld be c o n s id e re d
una t the inte rfa ce ,b u t the re is s e ldom s ufficie nt in fo rm a tio n
|
zag
oneto s pe cify s uch va ria tio n .
Egri
o orfre e -fie ld e a rth q u a ke m o tio n s a t n o n -u n ifo rm , o r a t a n
ooo Be ca us e o f the difficulty o f ra tio n a lly s pe cifying the
ras
a err
s owa rc h da m--rockinte rfa cea n d o f d e ve lo p in gc o rre s p o n d in g
o og
w sd e c o n vo lve drigid-ba s e d-rockin p u t m o tio n s s pe cia llyfor ~-- 67m ~ 70m ~ 67m
sagon o n -h o m o g e n e o u sth re e -d im e n s io n a sl ys te ms ,the ma s s - Figure 2 Dam-foundation-reservoir for numerical applications
le s s fo u n d a tio n in p u t m o d e l is ge ne ra lly fa vo u re d for
tim e -d o m a in a na lys is o f la rge d a m -fo u n d a tio ns ys te ms
d u e to its s implicity. C lo u g h e t a l. 16 dis cus s e d the
pos s ibility o f c o m b in in g s o m e o f the fo u r p ro p o s e din p u t
m e c h a n is m sto d e ve lo pa p p ro p ria tec ro s s -c a n yo ns e is mic a lu m p e d a d d e d m a s s m o d e l us ing incompre s s iblewa te r
e xc ita tio n o f a rc h da ms .Alth o u g h n o q u a n tita tiveconclu- is us e d to re pre s e ntthe h yd ro d yn a m icin te ra c tio ne ffe cts .
s ions c o u ld be re a che d,it wa s p o in te d o u t th a t the us e Th e d a m is ide a lize d a s a n a s s e mb la g eo f 8-node s lin e a r
of diffe re nt in p u t a s s u m p tio n s c a n le a d to s ignifica nt is o p a ra m e tric e le me nts with a to ta l o f 178 DO F . Th e
va ria tio n s in the s tru c tu ra l re s pons e . fo u n d a tio n block is re p re s e n te db y a n a s s e mb la g eo f
4-node s lin e a r is o p a ra m e trice le me nts with a to ta l o f 80
DO F .
Th e s tiffne s sa n d m a s sm a tric e so f the c o m b in e ds ys te m
Systemanalysed a re fo u n d b y dire ct a s s e m b lyo f th e s ys te m m a tric e s o f
In p u t d a ta re q u ire d for d yn a m ic a n a lys is o f d a m -fo u n - the c o n c re te d a m a n d th e fo u n d a tio n ro c k e va lu a te db y
d a tio n -re s e rvo ir s ys te ms cons is t o f g ro u n d m o tio n , us ing th e s pe cifie d m a te ria l prope rtie s . Ene rgy-los sme c-
e a rth q u a ke -in d u c e dwa te r pre s s ure s(h yd ro d yn a m icfor- h a n is m s th a t a re o p e ra tive in the d yn a m ic a n a lys is o f
ce s ),d a m p in g coe fficie nts ,g e o m e trya n d m a te ria lp ro p e r- d a m -fo u n d a tio n -re s e rvo irs ys te msa re difficult to re pre -
tie s o f the s tru c tu re sa n d fo u n d a tio nblock, a n d b o u n d a ry s e nt pre cis e ly. Th e m a th e m a tic a llyc o n ve n ie n t a s s u m p -
c o n d itio n s .Figure 2 s h o ws the d a m -fo u n d a tio n -re s e rvo ir tio n o f a n e ffe ctive vis cous d a m p in g is th u s ge ne ra lly
s ys te ma n a lys e d ,which c o rre s p o n d sto a s ingle m o n o lith a d o p te d for p ra c tic a l a n a lys e sis ' 19. Th e g lo b a l d a m p in g
of a g ra vity d a m . Th e c o n c re te o f the d a m is a s s u m e dto m a trix is fo u n d b y a s s e mb lin gthe d a m p in g m a tric e s o f
be lin e a rly e la s tic (pla ne s tre s s ) with a m o d u lu s o f the d a m a n d the fo u n d a tio n . In the ca s e whe re the
e la s ticity,E d, o f 24 000 MP a , a m a s sd e n s ityo f 2640 kg /m 3, d a m p in g ra tio s o f the c o n c re te d a m a n d th e fo u n d a tio n
a P o is s o n ra tio o f 0.20 a n d 5 % d a m p in g . Th e d a m re s ts ro c k a re n o t e qua l, the g lo b a l d a m p in g m a trix will be
o n a lin e a rly e la s ticfo u n d a tio nblock with a P o is s o nra tio n o n -p ro p o rtio n a la n d c a n o n ly be e xpre s s e din te rm s o f
0.33, a n d a ma s s d e n s ity o f 2643 kg /m 3 fo r e a rth q u a ke a n e xplicit m a trix, [C ]. Th e g lo b a l d a m p in g m a trix is
in p u t m o d e ls A, C a n d D. Th e fo u n d a tio n ro c k is a ls o m o s t e ffe ctive ly c o n s tru c te db y s e p a ra te lya p p lyin g the
a s s u m e dto be in a s ta te o f p la n e s tre s s .Th is a s s u m p tio n c o n c e p to f R a yle ig h d a m p in g to th e d a m a n d the fo u n d a -
is d ic ta te d b y th e re la tive ly s ma ll lo n g itu d in a l vo lu m e o f tio n 18. F o r p ro p o rtio n a l d a m p in g ( ~ = ~ f = 5 % ) the
fo u n d a tio nro c k e xpe cte dto p a rtic ip a te in th e e a rth q u a ke g lo b a l d a m p in g m a trix m a y be c o m p u te d fro m
re s pons eo f a s ingle d a m m o n o lith ~7. F o r the fo u n d a tio n [C ] = a o [M] + a l [K] (3)
rock the m o d u lu s o f e la s ticity, El, is va rie d s uch th a t
E f / E d = 1 / 8 , 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2 a n d 4. Th e d a m p in g ra tio for whe re I-M] a n d [K] a re th e c o m b in e d s ys te m m a tric e s
the fo u n d a tio n ro c k is s pe cifie da s 5, 10 a n d 15 % critica l. a n d a o, a v a re p ro p o rtio n a lity c o n s ta n ts s e le cte d to
Th e d e p th o f the re s e rvoir is a s s u m e dto be 99.4 m a n d c o n tro l the d a m p in g ra tio s o f the lowe s t a n d highe s t

40 Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January

 Earthquake input mechanisms: P. Lbger and IV/. Boughoufalah
mode s e xpe cte d to c o n trib u te s ignifica ntly to the re s - Re s pons ere sults
pons e . F o r n o n -p ro p o rtio n a l d a mp in g the following
ma trice s will be c o m p u te d for the d a m : Fre e -vibration re s pons e

(4) The d a m -fo u n d a tio n inte ra ction e ffe ct is ba s ica lly

[Ca ] = a o,a [Md] + a l,a [Kd ]
a nd for the fo u n d a tio n
[C f] = a o , f[Mf] + a l, f[Kf] (5)
or
[-Cf] = a l, f[Kf] (6)
The globa l d a mp in g ma trix for the comple te s tructure
will be o b ta in e d b y a s s e mbling[Ca ] a nd [Cf] b y us ing
s ta n d a rd s tructura l a s s e mbly proce dure . It s hould be
note d tha t e qua tions (4) a nd (6) ca n a ls o be us e d for
a p ro p o rtio n a lly d a m p e d d a m -m a s s le s s -fo u n d a tio n
mode l. The m a jo r a dva nta geo f this p ro c e d u reis tha t the
d a mp in g ma trix re ta ine d the b a n d e d form o f the [)14]
a nd [K] ma trice s , re ducing s ignifica ntly the nume rica l
e ffort in te rms o f m e m o ry re quire me nts a nd o p e ra tio n
count, a s c o m p a re d to the us e o f a full [C ] ma trix.
The m a jo r dis a dva nta ge so f the Ra yle igh d a mp in g
m e th o d a re tha t the highe r m o d e s a re cons ide ra blym o re
d a m p e d tha n the lowe r mode s ,a nd tha t the da mping is
controlle d a t only two m o d e s of vibra tion (whe re the
da mping ma trix is p ro p o rtio n a l to b o th the ma s s a nd
s tiffne s s ma trice s )in be twe e nthe s e two m o d e s the va lue s
o f the da mping ra tio a re le s s th a n the a s s igne dva lue . F o r
a da mping ma trix p ro p o rtio n a l only to the s tiffne s s
ma trix, the d a mp in g ra tio is controlle d a t only one mode ,
ge ne ra llythe funda me nta lmode ,a n d the re forethe highe r
m o d e s will be much m o re d a m p e d tha n the firs t.
The g ro u n d m o tio n s s e le cte d for this s tudy a re the
horizonta l c o m p o n e n tso f the El C e n tro 1940, P a c o im a
Da m 1971, a nd P a rkfie ld 1966 e a rthqua ke s .The ma xi-
m u m a mplitude s o f a ll g ro u n d m o tio n s ha ve be e n nor-
ma lize d to 0.350. The de convolve d a cce le rogra msre -
quire d for input mode l C we re o b ta in e d b y us ing the
c o m p u te r p ro g ra m S HAKE 2°.
controlle d b y the ra tio o f fo u n d a tio n rock m o d u lu s to
concre te m o d u lu s (Ef/Ed) a nd the re fore the b e h a vio u ro f
the d a m -fo u n d a tio n -re s e rvo irs ys te m in fre e -vibra tion
will a ls o be de pe nde nton the ra tio Ef/Ea. The pe riods o f
the c o mb in e d s ys te m a s a function o f the fo u n d a tio n
fle xibility a re pre s e nte din Table I for a ma s s -founda tion
s ys te m a n d Table 2 for a ma s s le s s -founda tions ys te m.
It ca n be notice d from the s e ta ble s tha t the pe riods o f
vibra tion le ngthe n with incre a s ingfo u n d a tio n fle xibility.
Furthe rmore , ne gle cting the ma s s o f the founda tion
re duce s the pe riods o f the s ys te m. Re s ults a ls o indica te
tha t for the fle xible fo u n d a tio n rock with ma s s , the
pe riods o f vibra tion incre a s es ignifica ntly b y c o m p a ris o n
with thos e of infinite ly rigid founda tion. F o r the ma s s le s s
founda tion ca s e ,the incre a s eis re la tive ly s ma lle r tha n in
the ma s s -founda tionca s e .Thus , the ma s s le s s -founda tion
mode l is le s s a ffe cte d b y the fle xibility o f the founda tion
rock.
F o r e a rth q u a kea na lys is ,a n e ffe ctive ma s s corre s pon-
ding to the p a rt o f the tota l ma s s re s ponding to the
e a rth q u a ke in e a ch m o d e is c o m m o n ly us e d a s a g o o d
indica tion o f the re la tive c o n trib u tio n o f a pa rticula r
m o d e to the s tructura l re s pons e21. The pe rce nta geo f the
tota l ma s s re pre s e nte din the dire ction j b y a trunca te d
s e t o f n [M]-o rth o n o rm a l e ige nve ctorswill be give n a s
e n 'J --{rj}T [M]{rj} i=, (7)
whe re Pi.~ is the pa rticipa tion fa ctor for m o d e {~b,}
c o m p u te d a s
p,.j = {~ ,}ffM]{r A (8)
Figure 3 s hows the va ria tion o f the n u m b e r o f m o d e s
re quire d to re a ch 95 % o f the e ffe ctive m o d a l ma s s in the
horizonta l (Y) dire ction, a s a function o f the ra tio E f/E d.

Table 1 Periods (in seconds) of darn-foundation system, foundation with mass (models A, C, D)
Ef/Ed 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 oo
T1 0.948 0.718 0.579 0.504 0.467 0.448 0.436
T2 0.582 0.440 0.338 0.262 0.212 0.189 0.177
T3 0.451 0.325 0.237 0.184 0.153 0.126 0.107
T4 0.309 0.242 0.205 0.168 0.133 0.111 0.097
T5 0.290 0.221 0.159 0.11 5 0.098 0.089 0.068
T6 0.247 0.177 0.131 0.109 0.082 0.067 0.056

Table 2 Periods (in seconds) of dam-foundation system, massless foundation (model B)

Ef/Ea 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 oo
T1 0.867 0.680 0.565 0.500 0.465 0.447 0.436
T2 0.362 0.292 0.250 0.220 0.199 0.186 0.177
T3 0.316 0.245 0.190 0.153 0.131 0.118 0.107
T4 0.165 0.146 0.129 0.115 0.105 0.099 0.097
T5 0.086 0.082 0.077 0.073 0.070 0.069 0.068
T6 0.071 0.070 0.067 0.064 0.059 0.058 0.056

Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January 41

Earthquake input mechanisms. P. Leger and M. Boughoufalah
Th e re s ults in d ic a te th a t the n u m b e r o f m o d e s re q u ire d 15
to re a c h th e s pe cifie d va lu e o f e ffe ctive m o d a l ma s s
incre a s e swith the in c re a s e o f the s tiffne s s o f th e s ys te m.
F o r a g ra vity d a m with a fle xible fo u n d a tio n , a re la tive ly
s ma ll n u m b e r o f lo w-fre q u e n c y m o d e s is th u s a ble to
0
re p re s e n ta d e q u a te lyth e d yn a m ic re s p o n s eo f th e s ys te m.
It s h o u ld a ls o be o b s e rve dth a t fo r a n y s pe cifie d va lu e
o f E f/E d th e n u m b e r o f m o d e s re q u ire d to re a c h a ae
h o riz o n ta l e ffe ctive m o d a l m a s s o f 95 % is s ig n ific a n tly =u' 10
le s s fo r th e m a s s le s s -fo u n d a tio ne a rth q u a kein p u t m o d e l II

(m o d e l B) th a n fo r the in p u t m o d e ls with n o n -z e ro ma s s
fo u n d a tio n (m o d e ls A, C a n d D). Th is is d u e to th e fa ct 2
th a t in the ma s s le s s in p u t m o d e l th e re is n o n e e d to r,
re p re s e n t th e in e rtia l vib ra tio n c h a ra c te ris tic s o f the
fo u n d a tio n b y th e tru n c a te d e ige nba s is . Th is will a ls o
re p re s e n t a s ignifica nt c o m p u ta tio n a l a d va n ta g e fo r ~,
m o d e l B a s c o m p a re dto m o d e ls A, C, D if th e tim e -h is to ry E 5
re s p o n s e -a n a lys isis to be m a d e fro m a re d u c e d s ys te m
o f d yn a m ic e q u ilib riu m e q u a tio n s e xp re s s e d in ge n-
e ra lize d c o o rd in a te s .

(Model B)
Tim e his torie s analys e s
Th e Ne wm a rk a ve ra g ea c c e le ra tio ns te p -b y-s te pin te g ra - I I I I i I I
tio n m e th o d o f th e e q u a tio n s o f m o tio n e xp re s s e d in 0 1 2 3 4
g e o m e tricc o o rd in a te sh a s b e e n s e le cte dto de a l e ffe ctive ly Ef/Ed
with a n o n -p ro p o rtio n a llyd a m p e d s ys te m.Tim e h is to rie s
we re p e rfo rm e d fo r th e firs t s ix s e c o n d s ,which a p p e a rs Figure 3 Influence of the foundation flexibility on the effective
modal mass
to be critica l fo r th e re s p o n s e o f th e d a m -fo u n d a tio n
re s e rvo ir s ys te m.Th e e a rth q u a ke re s p o n s eo f th e s ys te m
wa s d e te rm in e d in te rm s o f a g lo b a l re s p o n s ep a ra m e te r,
the d a m -fo u n d a tio n in te rfa c e b a s e s he a r, a n d loca l
re s p o n s e p a ra m e te rs s uch a s n o d a l d is p la c e m e n ts ,a c-

I
c e le ra tio n sa n d e le m e n t s tre s s e s .Th e d a m d is p la c e m e n ts 25
M ode lA^ A A ~ . l Model B [
a n d a c c e le ra tio n s we re c o m p u te d with re s p e c t to th e
i 0
I /
' // '/ ,~ I
' .... _ -J5//~,.>A~/~/-~j
d a m fo u n d a tio n in te rfa c e fo r a ll c o n s id e re de a rth q u a ke , I I I l i ]
-25
in p u t m e c h a n is m sin o rd e r to m a ke c o m p a ra tivea na lys is 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
o n a c o n s is te n t ba s is . Tim e his torie s , m a xim u m (MAX) I
a n d ro o t m e a n s q u a re(R MS ) va lue s we re us e d to q u a n tify
the inte ns itie s a n d va ria tio n s o f th e re s p o n s eq u a n titie s .~ 25
fMo.e,C . % , 0 !
o f inte re s t. Th e MAX va lu e is a n in te re s tin g in d ic a to r >- 0
e s pe cia llyfro m a de s ign p o in t o f vie w. Ho we ve r,the MAX --251 1 L ] I ] I I L I
va lue c a n n o t be us e d a lo n e a s a n in d ic a tio n o f th e 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
in te n s ity o f th e re s p o n s e q u a n tity o f in te re s t b e c a u s e it
is a lo c a l m e a s u re a n d m ig h t n o t be fully re p re s e n ta tive Time (s) Time (s)
o f the g e n e ra l b e h a vio u r o f th e s pe cifie d re s p o n s eq u a n - Figure 4 Horizontal displacements at node 1 (Ef/Ed = 1 / 8 ,
tity. Th e R MS va lu e o f a give n tim e h is to ry c a n be ~f = 15%, El Centro Earthquake)
c o n s id e re da s a m o re g lo b a l m e a s u reo f th e inte ns ity. F o r
e xa m p le , th e R MS D, ro o t m e a n s q u a re o f th e n o d a l
d is p la c e m e n tc o m p o n e n t,ui(t), will be give n a s :

io %'tAAA^ ^AAAA
I0

wh e re t i re p re s e n tsth e c u m u la tive tim e a c h ie ve d a fte r i -10

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
tim e s te ps a n d n is th e to ta l n u m b e r o f tim e s te ps .
A s u m m a ryo f im p o rta n t n u m e ric a lre s u lts is presented .~ 1o
b e lo w in o rd e r to illu s tra te th e re la tive p e rfo rm a n c e o f
th e fo u r p ro p o s e d in p u t m o d e ls . It wa s ve rifie d th a t th e ~. o T' AAA ^AAAA , ~vyvvvvvvvv
AA^ ^AAAA
in te n s ity o f th e d is p la c e m e n tsa t n o d e 1 (s e e Figure 2) -10 I L I I
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
c o u ld be c o n s id e re dre p re s e n ta tiveo f th e re la tive re s ults
give n in th e d iffe re n t a n a lys e s fo r typ ic a l lo c a l re s p o n s e Time (s) Time (s)
q u a n titie s o f e n g in e e rin g in te re s t s uch a s s tre s s e s ,a c- Figure 5 Horizontal displacements at node 1 (ERIEd = 4, ~f = 1 5 %,
c e le ra tio n s a n d d is p la c e m e n ts .Th e re s p o n s e tim e his - El Centro Earthquake)

42 Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January

 Earthquake input mechanisms." P. Leger and M. Boughoufalah
torie s o f h o riz o n ta ldis pla ce me nta t node 1, re s ultingfrom
the a pplica tion o f the El C e n tro a cce le rogra ma ccording
to the four propos e din p u t me cha nis msa re pre s e nte din
Figure s 4 a n d 5 for E f/Ed = 1 /8 , 4 a n d if = 15 %. F o r a
so fle xible fo u n d a tio n rock the re s ults give n by mode l A,
or the rigid-ba s e in p u t mode l a re la rge r th a n thos e de rive d
so
aa
from the o th e r mode l. The a mplitude a nd fre que ncy
a c o n te n to f the re s ults o b ta in e dfrom mode ls B, C, a n d D
too a re ve ry s imila r. F o r a rigid fo u n d a tio n whe re s o il-
s tructure inte ra ction ?s n o t ve ry s ignifica nt the dis pla ce -
oo me nts de rive d from mode l A a re s till the la rge s t,but the
ons diffe re nce with re s pe ct to the o th e r mode ls is not a s
e
gvoi im p o rta n t a s for the fle xible founda tion. It s hould be
oaaso
a n o te d th a t only a mplitude s o f the re s pons ea re a ffe cte d
a as
v no by lowe r fo u n d a tio nd a m p in g va lue s .
q The pe rforma nceo f mode l B is clos e ly re la te d to the
va lue o f d a m p in g ra tio a s s igne dto the fo u n d a tio n rock
a n d the c o m p u ta tio n a tel chniqueus e dto form the globa l
d a m p in g ma trix [C]. It s hould be note d, howe ve r, tha t
a n y diffe re nce sin the re s pons equa ntitie sc o m p u te dfrom
mode l B a n d thos e o f mode ls C a nd D a re a ls o due to
the fa ct th a t the be ha viour of the ma s s le s s -founda tion
mode l in fre e -vibra tion is s ome wha tdiffe re nt th a n the
fre e -vibra tion re s pons eo f the ma s s -founda tionmode l.
To illus tra te the e ffe ct o f the d a m p in g ra tio, ~f, o f the
ma s s le s s -founda tion mode l on the s e is mic re s pons e ,the
inte ns itie s o f horizonta l dis pla ce me ntsa t node 1 re pre -
s e nte dby the corre s pondingRMS a re plotte d in Figure
6 for mode l B a s a function o f the moduli ra tio, Ee/Ed,
for four s e le cte d va lue s o f the d a m p in g ra tio, ~f = 0, 5,
10 a n d 15 % of critica l. F o r the p ro p o rtio n a lly d a m p e d
ca s e(if = 5 %) two ca s e sa re s hown.The firs t corre s ponds
to a d a m p in g ma trix forme d by a pplying the Ra yle igh
m e th o d to the comple te s ys te m,while the s e cond cor-
re s pondsto a d a m p in gma trix e s ta blis he db y a s s e mbling
the d a m p in g ma trice s o f the d a m a n d the fo u n d a tio n
re cognizinge xplicitly the ir diffe re nt ine rtia l cha ra cte ris -
tics . It ca n be notice d from Figure 6 th a t the e ffe ct o f the
d a m p in g ra tio is de pe nde nton the fle xibility of the
founda tion. F o r ve ry fle xible founda tions ,a s s igning a
va lue of ze ro d a m p in g to the ma s s le s s fo u n d a tio n in-
cre a s e sthe dis pla ce me ntqua ntitie ss ignifica ntly,whe re a s
for re la tive ly rigid fo u n d a tio n sthe va lue o f the d a m p in g
ra tio doe s not ha ve a s ignifica ntinflue nce on the ma gni-
tude o f the dis pla ce me ntqua ntitie s .The us e o f a s tiffne s s -
p ro p o rtio n a l only fo u n d a tio n d a m p in g ma trix is a ls o
s hown to re duce s ignifica ntly the a mplitude o f the re s -
pons e for re la tive ly fle xible founda tions .
The dis pla ce me ntsde rive d from mode lB, with a va lue
o f ze ro d a m p in g for the ma s s le s sfo u n d a tio n a re com-
pa re d in Figure 7 with the dis pla ce me ntsde rive d from
mode l C in which the d a m p in g ra tio o f the fo u n d a tio n
wa s a s s igne dthe va lue so f Cf -- 5, 10, 15 % for the va rious
fo u n d a tio nfle xibility le ve ls . Mode l B with ~e = 0 % is in
good a gre e me ntwith mode lC for re la tive lyrigid founda -
tions , with E f/ E d >> 1, e s pe cia lly for the lightly d a m p e d
fo u n d a tio nrock. F o r fle xible founda tions with
, Ef/Ed < 1,
a d a m p in g va lue diffe re nt from ze ro ha s to be a s s igne d
to the ma s s le s s fo u n d a tio n in orde r to improve the
pe rforma nceof this mode l.

150 150

Model ~f(%)
[] B 0
E] ~f = 0%
125 zx C 5
o C 10
0 ~f = 5% 1 Rayleigh damping on complete system
x C 15

Q
a
10o 310o
rr rq
t~

× ~f = 10% ~ lCf] stiffness proportional only

+ ~f = 15% (

75

~0 , ! = I J ! I I , I I I I I 50 J I t I ] I J
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Ef/Ed Ef/E~
Figure 6 Influence of the foundation damping on horizontal Figure 7 Comparison of displacements at n o d e 1 d e r i v e d f r o m
displacements at n o d e 1 f o r t h e m a s s l e s s f o u n d a t i o n i n p u t model m o d e l B w i t h ~f = 0 % a n d m o d e l C w i t h Cf = 5, 10, 1 5 % (El C e n t r o
B (El C e n t r o E a r t h q u a k e ) Earthquake)

Eng. S t r u c t , 1 9 8 9 , V o l . 11, January 43

 Earthquake input mechanisms P, L e g e r a n d M , B o u g h o u / a l a h

Table 3 Maximum and RMS values of base shear normalized to model C with Ef/Ed : 1 (~;f 5%, ~d 5'~/°) El Centro earthquake
Ef/Ed 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4
Models RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX
A 2.58 1.62 2.01 1.64 2.19 2.20 1.94 1.84 1.63 1.54 1.46 1.31
B' 1.64 0.95 1.44 1.19 1.56 1.45 1.18 1.07 1.14 1.04 1.04 0.93
B 1.24 0.90 1.09 0.82 1.23 1,11 1.02 1.00 0.99 0.81 0.95 0.80
C 1.24 0.89 0.98 0.78 1,23 1.17 1.00 1.00 0.98 0.88 1.05 0.81
D 1.26 0.91 1.01 0.81 1.27 1.1 9 1.02 1.02 0.99 0.89 0.99 0.85
For Model B' ~f = 0 %

Table 4 Maximum and RMS values of base shear normalized to model C with Ef/Ed = 1 (~f = 10%, ~d = 50"/o) El Centro earthquake

Ef/Ed 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4

Models RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX

A 2.42 1.52 2.03 1.71 2.13 2.26 1.84 1.89 1.64 1.64 1.45 1.37
B' 1.73 1.01 1.51 1.28 1.64 1.55 1.24 1.15 1.20 1.11 1.10 0.99
B 1.09 0.87 1.03 0.89 1.11 1.28 0.98 1.05 0.90 1.01 0.94 0.93
C 1.19 0.85 0.98 0.82 1.22 1.20 1.00 1.00 0.94 0.87 1.04 0.86
D 1.1 5 0.85 1.03 0.85 1.25 1.24 1.04 1.06 1.02 0.95 1.02 0.90

For Model B' ~f = 0 %

Table 5 Maximum and RMS values of base shear normalized to model C with Ef/Ed = 1 (~f = 1 5%, ~d = 5 % ) El Centro earthquake

Ef/Ed 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4

Models RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX RMS MAX

A 2.21 1.35 1.86 1.65 2.03 2.21 1.73 1.84 1.55 1.59 1.41 1.37
B' 1.75 1.02 1.53 1.28 1.66 1.57 1.26 1.16 1.21 1.12 1.11 1.00
B 1.1 5 0.83 0.94 0.96 1.00 1.21 0.92 1.03 0.91 0.97 0.91 0.92
C 1.12 0.82 0.95 0.82 1.14 1.1 9 1.00 1.00 0.95 0.88 1.04 0.86
D 1.10 0.89 0.96 0.83 1.19 1.22 1.03 1.05 1.01 0.95 1.02 0.91

For Model B' ~f = 0 %

Table s 3, 4 a n d 5 pre s e ntthe MAX a n d RMS va lue s
o f the d a m -fo u n d a tio n inte rfa ce ba s e s he a r for the
comple tera nge o f s ite prope rtie s re ta ine din the a na lys is
us ing the E l C e n tro e a rthqua ke .F o r e a ch va lue o f the
fo u n d a tio n d a m p in g the re s ults ha ve be e n norma lize d
with re s pe ctto in p u t mode lC with Ef/Ed = 1. It is s hown
th a t the a pplica tion o f a mode l A, the rigid-ba s e -rock
input mode l, induce sve ry s ignifica nta rtificia l a mplifica -
tions in the re s pons equa ntitie so f inte re s t.The ma gnitude
of the s e a rtificia l a mplifica tions is s hown to incre a s e
s oil-s tructure inte ra ction a re not s ignifica nt. The pe r-
forma nce of mode l B a s compa re dto mode ls C a n d D
is s ignifica ntly improve d by cons ide rings ome d a m p in g
provide d by the founda tion.The re s ults o f mode ls B, C
a nd D a re the n within 10% on a ve ra ge . Howe ve r, the
RMS va lue sof ba s es he a rth a t a re indica tive o f the globa l
be ha viour s howe d th a t the ma s s le s s -founda tion input
mode ls with d a m p in g o f 10% a nd 15 % te nd to con-
s is te ntlyunde re s tima tethe re s pons eby compa ris onwith

o
with the le ve l o f fo u n d a tio n fle xibility. Mode l A is
the re fore re cognize d a s ina de qua te to e va lua te time -
d o m a in s e is mic re s pons e sof d a m -fo u n d a tio ns ys te ms 200
a nd s hould n o t be us e d in pra ctice .
Model
The us e o f mode lD, the fre e -fie ld input mode l, yie lde d
0 A
re s ults th a t a re ve ry s imila r (within 10% in a ve ra ge )to [] B
thos ede rive dfrom the de convolve din p u t mode l(C). This 150 A C
is s hown to be inde pe nde ntof the le ve l of fle xibility a n d x D
d a m p in g o f the fo u n d a tio n rock. Mode l D ca n thus be
cons ide re dthe mos te fficie nt to e va lua tethe time -doma in
re s pons e so f gra vity d a m -fo u n d a tio ns ys te mscons ide ring
the ine rtia l prope rtie so f the fo u n d a tio n ,s ince it is much lOO
e a s ie rto imple me ntth a n mode l C.
The pe rforma nceo f mode l B, the ma s s le s s -founda tion
input mode l,is s hown to be de pe nde nton the fo u n d a tio n
fle xibility a n d on the le ve l o f d a m p in g of the ma s s le s s
fo u n d a tio n rock. The ma s s le s s -founda tion input mode l 50 I ~
0 1 2 3 4
with no d a m p in gte ndsto ove re s tima tequite s ignifica ntly
the re s pons eby compa ris onwith mode ls C a n d D a n d Ef/Ed
this for the comple te ra nge o f s ite conditions e xce pt for Figure 8 RMS of horizontal displacements at node 1 derived from
a s tiff lightly d a m p e d fo u n d a tio n whe re the e ffe cts o f the four input models (El Centro earthquake), ~f = 10%

44 Eng. Struct. 1 9 8 9 , Vol. 11, January

 Earthquake input mechanisms: P. Leger and M. Boughoufalah
mode ls C a nd D a s the s tiffne s s o f the fo u n d a tio n is
incre a s e d.This be ha viourwa s more a ppa re ntwhe n the
RMS of loca l n o d a l dis pla ce me ntswe re e xa mine d,a s
s hown in Figure 8.
This ca n be e xpla ine dby the fa ct th a t the d a m p in gfor
n o n -p ro p o rtio n a lma s s le s s -founda tion
mode ls wa s con-
trolle d only for the firs t mode of vibra tion, highe r mode s
re ce iving s ignifica ntly highe r d a m p in g ra tios , a s n o te d
pre vious ly.The re la tive c o n trib u tio n of the firs t mode of
vibra tion to the tota l re s pons ede pe ndson the fle xibility
of the fo u n d a tio nrock. The more fle xible the fo u n d a tio n
rock the highe r is the c o n trib u tio n o f the fu n d a m e n ta l
mode s uch th a t s tiffne s s -proportiona fo l u n d a tio n da m-
ping is s a tis fa ctory.F o r re la tive lymore rigid founda tions ,
one s hould e xpe ct th a t the e ffe ctive d a m p in g will be
highe rth a n the a s s igne dva lue , s ince the individua lm o d a l
contributions will be s pre a d ove r m a n y mode s . This
e xpla inss omeo f the dis cre pa ncie s hownbe twe e nmode ls
B a n d C, D for the s tiffe r fo u n d a tio nmode ls .
The time -his torya na lys isis a ttra ctive in the s e ns eth a t
it provide s comple te lyde te rminis ticre s ults for s pe cifie d
g ro u n dmotions .Howe ve r,a n y two motions m a y produce
quite diffe re ntpe a k re s pons e s e, ve n th o u g h the y ha ve the
s a me inte ns itie s a nd s ta tis tica lprope rtie s .The re fore ,to
va lida te the conclus ionsre ga rdingthe a pplica tion of the
four propos e d in p u t me cha nis ms ,the d a m -fo u n d a tio n
s ys te m ha s be e n s ubje cte d to the P a coima a n d the
P a rkfie ld a cce le rogra ms s, ca le d to 0.35 g, which re pre -
s e nts the m a xim u m a cce le ra tionus e d for the E1 C e n tro
a cce le rogra m.The fo u n d a tio nfle xibility wa s va rie d s uch
th a t the moduli ra tios ha ve the s a me va lue s a s us e d
pre vious lya n d the d a m p in g ra tio o f the fo u n d a tio n ha s
be e n a s s igne da va lue of 10% of critica l.
The R MS D o f the d a m cre s t (node 1) re s ulting from
the a pplica tionof the P a c o im aa nd P a rkfie lde a rth q u a ke s
a re pre s e nte din Figure s 9 a n d 10. It ca n be obs e rve dth a t
mode lA a lwa ys yie lds the la rge s tre s pons e ,mode lsC a n d
D a re a lmos tide ntica lfor the comple tera ngeo f mode lling
pa ra me te rs .Mode l B is in good a gre e me ntwith mode ls
C a nd D for ve ry fle xible fo u n d a tio n rock (Ee /Ed = 1/8,
1/4). F o r o th e r va lue s mode l B unde re s tima te dthe
dis pla ce me ntsby a n a ve ra ge of 7% a s compa re d to
mode ls C a nd D. The re la tive pe rforma nceo f mode l B
with re s pe ct to mode ls C a n d D a re ve ry s imila r for the
thre e diffe re nte a rth q u a ke scons ide re d.The obs e rva tions
100
Model
O A
[] B d a m p in g o f the fo u n d a tio n rock. Mode l D ca n thus be
80 D cons ide re dmore e fficie nt th a n mode l C to e va lua te the
a te ms s ince it is much e a s ie rto imple me ntth a n mode l C.
40 J //
20 J t I cha ra cte ris tics to be s tiffne s s -proportiona lonly, e ve n
0 1 2 3
Ef/Ed
Figure 9 RMS of horizontal displacements at node 1 derived from
the four input models (Pacoima earthquake), ~f = 1 0 %
100
Model
O A
E] B
80 /k C
X D
C3
(/)
60
40
20 , E I
0 1 2 3 4
Ef/Ed
Figure 10 RMS of horizontal displacements at node l derived from
the four input models (Parkfield earthquake) ~f = 10%
re porte d pre vious lyca n thus be cons ide re dinde pe nde nt
of the fre que ncy conte nt o f a pa rticula r e a rth q u a ke
re cord.
Co nc lus io ns
This s tu d y ha s pre s e nte dthe re la tive pe rforma nceo f four
diffe re nt e a rth q u a keinput me cha nis msth a t a re s uita ble
for time -doma ina na lys isof concre teda ms .The s ea re the
s ta n d a rdrigid-ba s ein p u t mode l(mode lA), the ma s s le s s -
fo u n d a tio ninput mode l(mode lB), the de convolve d-ba s e -
rock input mode l (mode l C) a nd the fre e -fie ld d a m -
fo u n d a tio ninte rfa ce input mode l (mode l D). The re s ults
de rive d from the a pplica tion o f the four propos e de a rth-
qua ke input me cha nis msto a s imple two-dime ns iona l
gra vity d a m -fo u n d a tio n -re s e rvo irs ys te m ha ve cle a rly
s hown th a t the us e o f diffe re nt input mode ls le a ds to
s ignifica nt diffe re nce s in the s tructura l re s pons eo f this
type o f s tructure .The ma in conclus ionswe re th a t mode l
A in tro d u c e d ve ry s ignifica nt a mplifica tion in the re -
s pons e qua ntitie s o f inte re s t. The s e a rtificia l a mplifica -
tions we re fo u n d to incre a s ewith the le ve l o f fo u n d a tio n
fle xibility. Mode l A is the re fore re cognize dto be ina de -
qua te to e va lua tetime -doma ins e is mic re s pons eo f d a m -
fo u n d a tio n s ys te msa nd s hould n o t be us e d in pra ctice .
The us e o f mode l D produce d re s ults th a t we re ve ry
s imila r to thos e de rive d from mode l C a n d th a t we re
s hown to be inde pe nde nto f the le ve ls o f fle xibility a nd
time -doma in re s pons eo f gra vity d a m -fo u n d a tio ns ys -
The pe rforma nceo f mode l B, the ma s s le s s -founda tion
input mode l, wa s s hown to be de pe nde nt on the
fo u n d a tio n fle xibility, on the a s s ume dle ve l of d a m p in g
o f the ma s s le s s -founda tion rock a n d on the computa -
tiona l proce dure re ta ine d to form the globa l d a m p in g
ma trix. To obta in a good corre la tion with mode ls C a nd
D, the da mping ma trix us e d in mode l B s hould be
cons tructe d by cons ide ring the fo u n d a tio n d a m p in g
whe n s imila r d a m p in gra tios a re a s s igne dto the d a m a nd
the founda tion. F o r ve ry fle xible fo u n d a tio n ca s e s Ef/
E d < 1/4), ve ry s imila r re s ults in typica l re s pons equa n-
titie s o f inte re s ts ha ve be e n obs e rve dbe twe e nmode l B,
Eng. Struct. 1 9 8 9 , Vol. 11, J a n u a r y 45
Earthquake input mechanisms. P. Leger and M. Boughoufalah
in whic h the da mping was c o ntro lle d at o nly the firs t
mo de o f vibration, a nd mo de ls C a nd D. Fo r s tiffe r
fo unda tio n cas e s , the nume ric a l re s ults indic a te tha t the
da mping ratio a s s ig ne d to the fo unda tio n in mo de l B
s ho uld be s malle r tha n the o ne tha t wo uld ha ve be e n
re taine d for the a pplic a tio n o f mo de ls C a nd D, in orde r
to ge t a n a c c ura te re s po ns e from this ma s s le s s -fo unda tio n
mo de l. Mo de l B, a ltho ug h no t as accurate as mo de ls C
a nd D, was thus s ho wn to be able to pro duc e nume ric a l
re s ults with a n a c c e pta ble le ve l o f c o nfide nc e for typical
e ng ine e ring a pplic a tio ns if a pro pe r mo de lling o f the
e ne rg y dis s ipa tio n characte ris tics o f the fo unda tio n is
pro vide d in the ma the ma tic a l fo rmula tio n. This is s ignifi-
c a nt for practical a pplic a tio ns s ince mo de l B is ve ry s imple
to imple me nt nume ric a lly us ing s ta nda rd c o mme rc ia l
finite e le me nt package s .
Re fe re nc e s
1 C h a kra b a rti, P . a n d C h o p ra A. K. 'Hyd ro d yn a m ic e ffe cts in
e a rth q u a kere s pons eof gra vity d a m s ', J. S truct. Div. A S C E 1974,
100, 1211-1224
2 C h o p ra , A. K. a n d G u p ta S. 'Hyd ro d yn a m ic a n d fo u n d a tio n
in te ra c tio n e ffe cts in fre que ncy re s pons e functions for concre te
gra vity d a m s ', Earthquake Eng. S truct. Dyn. 1982, 10, 89-106
3 Fe nve s ,G. a n d C h o p ra A. K. 'Effe cts of re s e rvoirb o tto m a b s o rp -
tio n a n d d a m -wa te r-fo u n d a tio nrock in te ra c tio n o n fre que ncy
re s pons e functions of concre te gra vity d a m s ', Earthquake Eng.
S truct. Dyn. 1985, 13, 13-31
4 Lys me r, J . a n d Kuhle me ye r,R.L. 'F in ite d yn a m icmode lfor infinite
m e d ia ' J. Eng. Me ch. Div. A S C E 1969, 95, 859-877
5 Wils on, E. L. 'A m e th o d of a na lys is for the e va lu a tio n of founda -
tio n -s tru c tu re in te ra c tio n ,' Proc. Fourth W orm Conf. Earthquake
Eng., S antiago, Chile , 1969
6 Kh a n a , J . 'E la s tic s o il-s tru c tu re in te ra c tio n ', Proc Fourth W orm
Conf. on Earthquake Eng., S antiago, Chile , 1969
46 Eng. Struct. 1989, Vol. 11, January
7 Clough, R. W. 'No n -lin e a r me cha nis msin the s e is mic re s pons eof
a rch d a m s ', Proc. Int. R e s . ConL Earthquake Fng. S kop/e . H~,,-
s lavia, J une /J uly 1980,pp. 669 684
8 C h o p ra , A. K. 'E a rth q u a kea na lys is ,de s ign a n d s a fe ty of concre te
da ms ', Proc. F(/?h Canadian Con/i Earthquake Eng., Otta wa , J uly
1987, pp. 39 62
9 Dre he r, K. J . 'S e is mic a na lys is a n d de s ign cons ide ra tions for
concre te d a m s ', Proc. C'on[i Dam s and Earthquake s , Ins tn. Cir.
Engrs , London, O c to b e r 1980
10 Fok, K. L. a n d C h o p ra A. K. 'F re q u e n c yre s pons efunctions for
a rch da ms : h yd ro d yn a m ic a n d fo u n d a tio n fle xibility e ffe cts ',
Earthquake Eng. S truct. Dyn. 1986, 14, 769-795
11 Ha ll, J . F. 'S tu d y of the e a rth q u a kere s pons eof P ine Fla t d a m ',
Earthquake Eng. S true t. Dyn. 1986,14, 281-295
12 Re ime r, R. B. 'De c o n vo lu tio n of s e is mic re s pons e for line a r
s ys te ms ',Earthquake Eng. R e s .Ce nte r R e p. E E R C 73 10, Unive rs -
ity of Ca lifornia , Be rke le y, 1973
13 Ba yo, E. a n d Wils on, E. L. 'F in ite e le me nt a n d Ritz ve ctors
te c h n iq u e for the s olution of thre e -dime ns iona ls o il-s tru c tu re
in te ra c tio n in the time d o m a in ', Eng. Com put. 1984,1,298-311
14 Clough, R. W. a n d C h o p ra A. K. "E a rth q u a kere s pons ea na lys isof
concre ted a m s ', In S tructural andge ote e hnicalm e chanics (Ed. . W.J .
Ha ll) P re ntice -Ha ll, 1977
15 Clough, R. W. a nd P e nzie n,J . lkynam ics ~/s tructure s , McGra w-
Hill, 1975
16 Clough, R. W., Cha ng, K. T, Che n, H.-Q. a n d G h a n a a t, Y.
'Dyn a m ic inte ra ction e ffe cts in a rch d a m s ', Earthquake Eng. R e s .
Ce nte r R e p. E E R C 85 11, Unive rs ity of Ca lifornia , Be rke le y, 1985
17 Fe nve s ,G. a n d C h o p ra ,A. K.' E a rth q u a kea na lys isa n d re s pons eof
concre te gra vity d a m s ', Earthquake Eng. R e s . Ce nte r R e p. E E R C
84-10. Unive rs ity of Ca lifornia , Be rke le y, 1984
18 Clough, R. W. a n d Mojta he di, S. 'E a rth q u a ke re s pons ea na lys is
cons ide ringn o n -p ro p o rtio n a ld a m p in g ', Earthquake Eng. S truct.
Dyn. 1976,4, 489-496
19 P ris cu, R., P opovoci, A., S te ma tiu, D. a nd C o n s ta n tin , S.
'E a rth q u a kee ngine e ringfor la rge d a m s ',J o h n Wile y & S ons , 1985
20 S chna be l,P . B., Lys me r, J . a n d S e e d, H. B. 'S HAKE : a c o m p u te r
p ro g ra m for e a rth q u a ke re s pons eof horizonta lly la ye re d s ite s ',
Earthquake Eng. R e s . Ce nte r R e p. E E R C 72 12. Unive rs ity of
Ca lifornia , Be rke le y, 1972
21 Lbge r, P. a n d Wils on E. L. 'G e n e ra tio nof loa d d e p e n d e n tRitz
tra n s fo rm a tio nve ctorsin s tru c tu ra ldyna mics ',Eng. Com put. 1987,
4, 309 318