Seismic Loading in Dams: A Review of Seismic Response, Analysis Methods and Safety Considerations

Abstract Dams are important structures whose seismic safety needs to be assessed. During an earthquake, the dam body experience inertia forces while the reservoir water produces additional hydrodynamic pressure, with the response also being influenced by dam-reservoir and foundation interactions. This review synthesizes the research presented in the supplied literature on seismic behaviour of concrete gravity and earth dams. The reviewed studies employ seismic-coefficient procedures, response-spectrum and time-history methods, finite-element analysis, nonlinear soil models and Newmark-type deformation analysis. Particular attention is given to soil properties, dam geometry, foundation conditions, water pressure, soil plasticity and liquefaction. The literature indicates that simplified approaches areuseful for preliminary assessment, whereas dynamic and nonlinear numerical methods provide more accurate information about stresses, displacements and potential damage. Three-dimensional modelling can provide improved representation when adequate site and material data are available. Liquefaction is identified as a major hazard for susceptible sandy and gravelly foundation soils, and ground-improvement measures such as vibratory compaction and jet grouting have been investigated. Future research should emphasize nonlinear dam–reservoir–foundation interaction, uncertainty quantification, probabilistic assessment and integration of monitoring data with numerical models.