Empirical approaches to estimate the nonlinear dynamic responses of earth-core rockfill dams subjected to earthquake ground motions

This study investigates three aspects of the dynamic response of earth-core rockfill dams (ECRDs) under earthquake loadings, including induced shear strain, increased fundamental period, and shear modulus reduction. A database of the recorded ground motions of ECRD cases in Japan is analyzed to carry out this study. The required response parameters as mentioned above are extracted by analyzing the acceleration time histories recorded at the dams’ crests and foundations. Subsequently, statistical analyses are performed to achieve the objectives of this study. A graph is developed describing the change in the dam’s fundamental period with the induced shear strain, and it is observed that the increase of the dam’s period is dependent on the increase in the shear strain levels. A relationship is established to estimate the anticipated levels of shear strain from the intensity measure (IM) of the earthquake signals. In the proposed predictive relationship, a new IM is used that can adequately characterize the severity of an earthquake. Finally, a curve and a range are suggested for the average shear modulus degradation of the ECRD’s core materials. The presented empirical graphs and relationships in this study are valuable tools to obtain an appropriate perception of dams’ nonlinear behaviour under strong earthquake excitations.