Numerical Modeling and Experimental Tests for Dynamic Characterization of Foz Tua Arch Dam

Abstract

The understanding of the dynamic behavior of an arch dam and its evolution over time provides important data for safety control procedures. Forced vibration tests remain a reliable technique for dynamic characterization, providing the response to excitation levels higher than ambient vibration measurements. Forced vibration tests were performed before and after the reservoir filling in a recent arch dam built in Portugal. Numerical models of the dam-reservoir-foundation system were built and calibrated with the experimental data. A good agreement was achieved between the numerical simulations and experimental data for the five lowest frequencies and their corresponding mode shapes.