Abstract: For a high arch dam, the traditional finite element method exhibits certain limitations in fine modeling, because of its large dam span and other huge dimensions, diversified material properties in different zones of its body, and the complexity of its foundation topography. This paper describes a brand-new integrated analysis process of a high arch dam-foundation-reservoir system, and develops a seismic analysis numerical model by the coupled SBFEM-FEM. This model is based on the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), and uses the overlaying element technique to integrate an octree SBFEM and the ABAQUS built-in elements. It combines the advantages of SBFEM semi-analyticity and mesh flexibility with the mature linear and nonlinear solvers and pre- and post-processing modules of ABAQUS. It is applied in a case study of the elastic, contact nonlinear and material nonlinear dynamic response of the XL high arch dam under seismic action. The results show that compared with the traditional finite element method, our new method reduces the model-required calculation resources effectively, and has a high accuracy in simulating the nonlinear response and damage of the dam under earthquakes, thus useful for the seismic analysis of water dams and similar structures.

Key words: scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), coupled SBFEM-FEM, contact nonlinear, nonlinear dynamic response, octree mesh