Criteria for Seismic Computations of Earthdams

Abstract

During the last years pseudo-static methods for earthquake safety cornputations were not considered acceptable owing to the fact that some earthdams. cornputed using this method, failed. or at least suffered severe damages. when subjected to seisms actions. Ali of these dams were constructed. total or partially. with sands, or sandy soil occurs in the foundations.

Dams built with well compacted clayey soils. subjected to earthquake. even strong.  very seldom (or never) fail with slope slides. But they can suffer high deformations, some of them inconvenient for the functions of the dams. Thus. methods that can allow the computation of deformations are recomended for these darns.

Computing deformations to determine, considering various dimensions of the darns and a range of seisms. the deformations that can be considered negligeables. it will be possible to find a pseudo-static method. with convenient rnodifications. mainly in seisms coefficient.  That could be empirically used.  in such a way that the compute dams present acceptable safety conceming colapse and negligeable deformations.