Modeling the Seismic Response of Gibe III Dam Using Finite Element Method

Mekuanint Shitaw Yimer, Elias Gebeyehu Ayele — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this paper, the seismic response of a gravity dam is investigated through using two-dimensional finite element model together with the nonlinear time history simulation approach. Taking Gibe III dam as a case study, numerical modeling is executed for the dam separately and along with the reservoir and the foundation using ABAQUS software. The seismic response is analyzed in terms of stresses, displacement, and cracking or tensile damages. The dam is supposed to structurally respond the maximum earthquake magnitude experienced within 150km radius of its site for the past 100 years. Concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model is suitably applied for defining the dam concrete behavior. Acoustic elements are utilized to consider the dam-reservoir interactions. For results accuracy, validation work is carried out for the preferred modeling approach. The analysis results demonstrate the heel part of the dam experienced highest tensile stress which is nearly equal to the permissible stress of Gibe III dam. Tensile damage result confirms that the dam heel undergo tension.

Localized Resilience: A Pathway to Justice-Based Urban Development

Negin Heidari, Mahdi Moghimi — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Contemporary cities in Iran face a complex array of threats and challenges that are no longer merely natural or technical in nature, but are rooted in social, spatial, institutional, and environmental structures. Key challenges include increasing climate variability, the expansion of natural hazards such as floods, droughts, urban heat islands, and water crises, inequality in resource distribution, and the fragility of urban infrastructure. In such conditions, the concept of urban resilience has gained increasing importance as a theoretical and operational framework for assessing and enhancing cities’ capacity to confront, adapt to, and recover from crises. This article, based on conceptual and empirical analysis, examines the status and quality of urban resilience in Iran. A significant portion of policymaking and interventions remains at the physical and infrastructural level, with weak connections to soft dimensions such as social participation, multi-level governance, and spatial justice. On the other hand, modern urban planning approaches emphasize the need for integration between resilience, urban health, and spatial justice. Resilient cities must not only withstand hazards but also possess the ability to reconstruct structures, maintain quality of life, and ensure equitable access to key resources such as green spaces, public transportation, health-oriented infrastructure, and opportunities for social participation. In this regard, attention to neighborhood scale, strengthening local institutional capacities, and utilizing multidimensional data in decision-making can play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of resilience.

Journal of Civil Engineering and Structures

Modeling the Seismic Response of Gibe III Dam Using Finite Element Method

Localized Resilience: A Pathway to Justice-Based Urban Development