ABSTRACT
The performance and safety of large embankment dams subjected to strong earthquake ground motion is one of the major risks in new construction projects. The design and performance of the structure is generally verified by numerical methods in most of engineering practice. Reduced scale physical modelling is often carried out in design and management stages for the same purpose where numerical methods cannot provide sufficient information. In general, physical model tests are designed and carried out according to rigorous scaling principles. However, it is sometimes difficult to follow these principles due to various limitations; equipment, boundary conditions, characteristics of prototype structures, etc. This paper will review the limitations of physical modelling methods and its effects in seismic performance evaluation of large embankment dams. It will also introduce alternative modelling and testing methods to overcome the limitations. A series of tests with a reduced scale embankment dam model are carried out to examine the limitations and to verify the applicability of alternative modelling method.
