Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published December 1979 | public
Journal Article

Shear Moduli and Damping Factors of Earth Dam

Abstract

In this study of an earth dam, a rational procedure is developed to estimate its dynamic soil properties, such as the shear moduli and damping factors, from its measured response to real earthquakes; the measured response includes strong-motion records from the crest and the base of the dam. The procedure permits study of nonlinear behavior by using the variation of stiffness and damping properties with strain levels. The Santa Felicia Dam, located in Southern California, was chosen for the analysis because it had been subjected to strong shaking during two earthquakes (with M_L=6.3 and 4.7), and was equipped with strong-motion instruments that yielded data on the structural response as well as the input ground motion at the site. The investigation is limited to the upstream-downstream response since existing analytical techniques for earth dams are restricted to horizontal shear deformation in that direction.

Additional Information

© 1979 American Society of Civil Engineers. This investigation was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. ATA 74-19135) and by the Earthquake Research Affiliates of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 25, 2023