Seismic response of earth dams: some recent developments

Abstract

The paper focuses on theoretical methods for estimating the dynamic response of earth dams to earthquake ground excitation. Following an outline of the historical developments in this field, the basic concepts/models for response analysis are introduced and their salient features, advantages and limitations are elucidated. The major phenomena associated with, and factors influencing, the response are identified and studied. Particular emphasis is accorded to inhomogeneity due to dependence of soil stiffness on confining pressure, nonrectangular canyon geometry, and nonlinear-inelastic soil behaviour. Several new formulations that have evolved over the last five years are outlined and characteristic results provide considerable insight into the problem. The simplicity of some of these formulations is underlined and attempts are made to compare their predictions with measurements from full-scale, natural and man-made, forced vibration tests. The basic validity as well as the limitations of the proposed analysis methods is demonstrated and topics of needed further research are suggested.