ABSTRACT
An examination of dam components subjected to explosive loading involves various levels of the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) due to the different types of structures included in the problem. Large concrete gravity dams respond very slowly compared to the blast loading period and, thus, only limited localized FSI typically occurs. Thinner reinforced concrete walls on powerhouses and relatively thin arch-type dams are typically affected by more pronounced FSI when loaded by blast. At the opposite extreme from the gravity dam, steel gates respond almost instantaneously to blast loading. Consequently, very severe FSI is observed as the loading and the gate structure greatly affect each other. Determining when to use explicit calculations for solving problems including FSI becomes essential when considering the best approach to solving this problem. By coupling an Eulerian fluid flow solver to a Lagrangian solid solver, many problems, where complicated FSI is important, can be more accurately simulated. This form of coupling involves the passing of information between the two types of solvers, typically on a timestep basis: in this case between the fluid dynamics code and the structural mechanics code. This paper provides an overview of some of the numerical results from a study to determine damage to dam components due to nearby upstream underwater detonations.