In this paper

a new rate-dependent concrete elasto-plastic damage model for simulating the mechanical behaviors of concrete is established by introducing the effect of strain rate

damage variable and stiffness degradation variables.A series of response history analyses on three-dimensional nonlinear seismic response of the gravity dam are carried out by employing this model considering the effect of strain rate or not.It is found that the strain rate caused by seismic loading varies significantly and affects the dynamic response.Results show that displacement

strain energy and damage obviously reduce with increase of strain rate

while tensile stress has a little increase.The conclusions are valuable for the earthquake analysis of the gravity dams.