Estimation of Earthquake-Induced Crest Settlements of Embankments

Problem statement: Freeboard requirement, a major consideration in the design of embankment dams, is controlled to a great extent by the crest settlements during earthquakes. Approach: The parameters that influence earthquake induced crest settlement had been studied using 152 published case histories on performance of embankment dams during earthquakes. Results: Based on the results a correlation had been proposed for obtaining preliminary estimates of earthquake-induced crest settlements. The correlation used the ratio of the peak horizontal ground acceleration and the yield acceleration as the estimator. Conclusion/Recommendations: The database analysis also indicated that crest settlements are larger where the fundamental periods of the embankment were similar to the predominant periods of the earthquake. Earthquake magnitude and the vertical component of earthquake ground motion, on the other hand, appeared to have a small influence on crest settlement.