Webinar: Lessons Learned Regarding Seismic Deformation Analysis of Embankment Dams from Re-Evaluation of the Upper and Lower San Fernando Dams Performance Case Histories


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Analyses of expected seismic performance of earthen dams subject to potential liquefaction hazard are routinely performed for high hazard dams. The State of Practice has increasingly evolved from simplified methods to the use of fully-coupled seismic pore pressure generation and nonlinear seismic deformation analyses (NDA) using either finite difference or finite element analysis frameworks. To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of these NDA methods, the Upper and Lower San Fernando Dams field performance case histories from the 1971 San Fernando earthquake were re-analyzed in these current studies by means of fully nonlinear seismic deformation analyses, using (1) a suite of four analytical models, (2) a suite of three cyclic pore pressure generation relationships, and (3) a suite of three post-liquefaction residual strength relationships. The results of these analyses have shown that a successful implementation of non-linear deformation analyses would involve (1) how cyclic pore pressure generation and liquefaction triggering is accounted for in different constitutive modeling approaches, (2) treatment of critical state and dilatant behaviors in soils during shaking, (3) evaluation and implementation of post-liquefaction residual strength (Sr), (4) modeling of potential strain softening of the non-liquefiable (e.g. clayey) soil layers, (5) continuation of the analyses through post-shaking conditions, (6) dealing with numerical difficulties associated with very large embankment displacements within the continuum analysis framework, and (7) suitable engineering assessment and interpretation of the analytical results. Failure to suitably accomplish any of these can result in potentially misleading and/or potentially unconservative findings. When these are suitably accomplished, seismic deformation analyses were found to be capable of producing excellent engineering insights and a good basis for engineering decision making and/or mitigation design.

 

Five Learning Objectives of This On-Demand Course:

  • Seismic nonlinear deformation analyses using numerical modeling can provide useful and reliable engineering results.
  • Accomplishing reliable results requires attention to a number of characterizations, modeling, and analysis details.
  • Modeling of non-liquefiable layers should also incorporate strain softening effects in earthquake and post-earthquake analyses.
  • Selection of appropriate combinations of liquefaction triggering, post-liquefaction strengths, and constitutive models is important to achieve reliable engineering results.
  • The common continuum analysis framework (e.g. FLAC) also has intrinsic limitations, and suitable engineering interpretation is also needed.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Ray Seed
University of California, Berkeley
Professor Emeritus

Professor Seed earned his BS, MS, and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. He taught at Standford University for four years, and then moved to UC Berkeley where he had a teaching and research career for 30 years. Professor Seed's research has had a significant impact on geotechnical practice in a number of areas including: analysis of compaction-induced stresses and deformations, seismic stability analysis of dams and embankments, analysis of soil liquefaction potential and post-liquefaction behaviors, analysis of reinforced soil systems and deep braced excavations, effects of site conditions on seismic site response, finite element analysis of static and seismic soil-structure interaction, stability and performance evaluation for hazardous waste fills, geotechnical evaluations and mitigation of dams and levees, and others.

 

Khaled Chowdhury
USACE and UC Berkeley
Senior Geotechnical Engineer and PhD Student

Khaled Chowdhury has over 18 years of experience in evaluations, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. Mr. Chowdhury worked for AECOM (formerly URS) and Kleinfelder for 16 years prior to joining USACE's South Pacific Division Dam Safety Production Center in Sacramento. He was a co-author or reviewer for several dams and levee Guidance Documents or Engineering Manuals for the CA DWR and USACE. He has several technical papers on topics such as seismic evaluations of dams and levees, seepage, stability, seepage cutoff walls, site characterizations. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of California at Berkeley on evaluation of the State of Practice regarding analysis of seismic performance of potentially liquefiable dams based on case histories. This webinar was developed based on Mr. Chowdhury's PhD research work under Professor Seed's guidance. Mr. Chowdhury is a Professional Engineer and Geotechnical Engineer in California.

 

Relevant Government Agencies

Army, Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Energy, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of the Interior, Other Federal Agencies, State Government, County Government, City Government, Municipal Government, FEMA, Federal Government, State & Local Government, Foreign Governments/Agencies


Event Type
Webcast


This event has no exhibitor/sponsor opportunities


When
Wed, Nov 6, 2019


Cost

Member:  $99.00
Non-Member:  $130.00


Website
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Organizer
Association of State Dam Safety Officials


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