For numerical simulation of seismic failure process of concrete dams

a plastic-damage thin- layer element model is proposed within the finite element framework. Based on the principle of deforma ⁃ tion equivalence

the plastic-damage behavior of concrete is concentrated into thin-layer elements in this model. By incorporating thin-layer elements into the high dam-foundation system

a large-deforma ⁃ tion failure analysis model for concrete dams is established. Furthermore

the Coupled Eulerian- La ⁃ grangian method is adopted to simulate reservoir water

so that a fluid-structure interaction model for seismic failure analysis of concrete dams is developed. As a case study

the full-process simulation from small-deformation damage to large-deformation failure of Koyna dam is achieved. The effects of con ⁃ crete constitutive behavior and reservoir water on dam failure are also analyzed.