NEHRP Clearinghouse

Title
Effects of Tectonic Movements on Stresses and Deformations in Earth Embankments.
File
PB92192996.pdf
Author(s)
Bray, J. D.; Seed, R. B.; Seed, H. B.
Source
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., September 1989, 454 p.
Identifying Number(s)
UCB/EERC-90/13
Abstract
The literature review evaluates two closely related topics: anchor pull-out behavior and mining subsidence, in the hope that soil rupture behavior analogous to that observed during fault rupture propagation could be studied. Results from previous small-scale model studies involving testing of dry sands are found to provide particularly valuable insights, though the applicability of these studies to saturated clay soils is limited. In addition, the study presents the results of a program of base deformation testing using 1 g small-scale models composed of a weak saturated clay mixture, which demonstrated failure behavior in close agreement with that observed in the field. It was found that the height of the shear zone in the soil above the base rock fault rupture was controlled primarily by the amount of base movement and the stress-strain behavior of the soil. The numerical analyses suggest that the finite element method can be successfully applied to this class of problem provided that the soil's nonlinear stress-dependent stress-strain behavior is properly modeled. The results of these studies have led to the development of analytical techniques for modeling fault rupture propagation through overlying clays. Recommendations are developed for design provisions to minimize the potentially adverse effects of earthquake fault rupture propagation on dam stability and integrity.
Keywords
; Numerical analysis; Embankments; Deformation; Earth movements; Stress analysis; Dams; Subsidence; Tectonics; Mathematical models; Foundations; Mass movements (Geology); Soil mechanics; Soil tests; Case histories; Geological faults; Finite element method; Clays; Model tests; Earthquake engineering; Reviews