A coupled finite element-infinite element (C.F.I.E) model for direct time domain analysis of a concrete gravity dam including dynamic fluid-structure interaction and water compressibility is presented. This numerical model involves finite element modelling of the dam and idealisation of the reservoir domain by coupled finite-infinite elements, as well as the development of a new symmetrisation technique. This technique is based on a stiffness-coupling formulation of the non-symmetric system of dynamic equilibrium equations, obtained from the application of a Galerkin variational formulation to the governing equations of the coupled dam displacement and reservoir pressure fields.

Solutions obtained by using the present model are compared with those derived from finite element (F.E) models of concrete gravity dam-reservoir systems utilising a radiation boundary in the upstream direction.

A typical concrete gravity dam-water system with arbitrary geometry of the fluid-structure interface is analysed to demonstrate the performance and the accuracy of the proposed model.

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