Investigating the Significance of Fluid Load Effects on Wet Surfaces in Concrete Dam Analysis: An Examination of Structural Behavior and Performance using the Pine Flat Dam as a Case Study

This study delves into the intricate interplay of reservoir–foundation interaction on the structural comportment exhibited by concrete gravity dams, employing the Pine Flat dam as a representative case study. In the context of seismic excitation sourced from established FEMA standards, a comprehensive investigation was conducted, encompassing both linear and nonlinear mass concrete behaviors. The coupled problem of fluid–structure interaction was solved simultaneously using implicit finite element technique. The findings of this research show the significant augmentation of tensile strength, moderation of compressive stress, and the introduction of precarious failure mechanisms within the dam structure when the reservoir–foundation interaction is considered. These observations underscore the necessity of accounting for this interaction in dam engineering, whereas disregard for this interaction in dam design culminates in inherently unsafe and unreliable results.