Intensity Measure Selection for Dynamic Analysis of Earth Dams

Abstract

A comprehensive study has been developed to determine the optimal Intensity Measure to be implemented in vulnerability and quantitative risk evaluation of earth dams. Newmark analyses and nonlinear time-history evaluations of a typical earth-core rockfill dam section were performed under a total of 23 near-field ground motion records. The comparison between the 19 IMs proposed was madeon five properties: efficiency, practicality, proficiency, sufficiency and hazard computability.Traditionally, peak ground acceleration has been used as the link between seismic hazard and structural analysis. However, results revealed that spectral parameters as velocity spectrum intensity and Housner intensity showed the best correlation with Newmark displacements, followed by the root mean square of acceleration. In general, velocity-related parameters and in particular, cumulative absolute velocity and sustained maximum velocity are the most appropriate IM regarding crest settlement.