A numerical research on the aqueduct hydrodynamic pressure from earthquakes

Abstract

The paper, based on the theory of fluid–structure interaction, conducts a systematic research on the aqueduct hydrodynamic pressure from earthquakes by using the method of numerical simulation and examining factors like the input wave forms, the number of the throughs in the upper part and the height of the bent in the lower part, and come to the conclusion that the hydrodynamic pressure of the single-groove sidewall and that of the multiple-groove one are of the similar distribution pattern, whereas the hydrodynamic pressure of the multiple-groove middlewall is about twice as heavy as that of the sidewall. The traditionally adopted Westergaard hydrodynamic pressure correction analytical formula in the aqueduct seismic design has studied the single groove structure in the upper part, but the calculation of relevant data shows that the height of the bent in the lower part has a great influence on the hydrodynamic pressure. Equipped with the numerical calculation of the universally accepted bent aqueduct model, the research comes up with a hydrodynamic pressure formula with the height parameter of the bent in the lower part that can be used in the aqueduct seismic design as a reference.

Keywords:

• aqueduct
• fluid–solid coupling
• numerical simulation
• hydrodynamic pressure
• formula fitting

Acknowledgement

This study is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant No. 51279052.