ABSTRACT
For the earthquake safety evaluation of dam structures, it is desirable to extend the existing and to attain new knowledge on the dynamic behaviors of these structures during strong earthquakes, along with the limitation of field observation data, through laboratory experiments. Dynamic model failure tests of a number of concrete gravity dams, concrete arch dams and embankment dams have been carried out in Dalian University of Technology, China. The relevant research work is briefly introduced. The earthquake ground acceleration that induces the first tension crack at the dam body is suggested as the basic index for the safety assessment of concrete dams and is predicted through dynamic model failure tests. A rather simple similarity rule for the dynamic model failure tests of embankment dams is developed; it can be used for the quantitative assessment of strong earthquake response of fill type structures.
