Dynamic Response Characteristics of Underground Powerhouse Caverns for Sandaowan Hydropower Station

Abstract

According to the practical situation, the 3-D finite element model of Sandaowan underground powerhouse caverns on Taolai River is set up for analyzing the behaviors under earthquake action. Based on static stress field of the surrounding rock mass, and with the selection of appropriate seismic waves for dynamic time-history analysis method, the dynamic responses of underground powerhouse caverns are analyzed. It is shown that the time-history waveform of dynamic displacement of given points has a very similar variation regularity with that of acceleration, and the wave phases of both are almost synchronous. The dynamic displacements and principal stresses of the given points on rock walls are with the vibration of low-frequency characteristics, the acceleration response is with the vibration of high-frequency characteristics.