Current Trends in the Seismic Analysis of Embankment Dams: On-Demand

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Earthquakes represent a significant hazard to dams in many parts of the United States and the world, and are a key consideration in the safe design and construction of dams. A key aspect of earthquake risk mitigation for dams is reliable seismic analysis of the expected performance of dams under earthquake loads. Significant advances have been made by the dam engineering profession in the seismic analysis of dams over the past several years. This webinar will provide an overview of the the fundamentals of seismic analysis of embankment dams and discuss current trends in the analysis of seismic stability and deformations. The webinar will provide dam engineers and dam safety officials with basic knowledge of seismic analysis of embankment dams and an overview of recent developments in analysis methodologies for the seismic safety evaluation of such dams.

Key Take-aways:
Overview of past performance and the potential effects of earthquakes on embankment dams.
Understanding of available approaches for the seismic stability evaluation of dams.
Basic knowledge of dam and material characterization requirements for reliable seismic evaluation of dams.
Understanding of procedures for the analysis of seismic stability and deformations of dams.
Overview of current trends for the seismic analysis of embankment dams.

1. Introduction
2. Lessons from performance during past earthquakes
3. Dynamic analysis fundamentals
- a. Use of analysis
- b. Controlling factors
- c. Elements of dynamic analysis
- d. Dynamic soil properties
- e. Equivalent-linear model
- f. Boundary conditions
4. Soil deformation behavior and strength
- a. Key soil behaviors
- b. Strength characterization
- c. Soil liquefaction
- d. Residual strength
5. Analysis of seismic stability and deformations
- a. Deformation analyses
- b. Post-earthquake stability
- c. Case histories

Lelio H. Mejia, PhD, PE, GE

Senior Principal

Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.

Dr. Lelio Mejia is a registered civil and geotechnical engineer with more than 35 years of experience in dam engineering, soil liquefaction, earthquake ground motions, soil-structure interaction, and soil improvement. He is a senior principal with Geosyntec Consultants and leads the firm’s Western U.S. dams and levees practice.

Lelio has directed the investigations and seismic stability evaluations of more than 25 large earth dams and has been involved in the design and construction of more than 15 major dam projects worldwide. He has served on multiple prestigious technical review boards and expert panels for U.S. federal and state agencies, water and power utilities, and other owners on various dam projects worldwide. He has led the design and helped manage the construction of several dam projects, including projects with more than $300 million in construction costs.
Lelio currently serves as the chair of the United States Society on Dams Earthquakes Committee and as a vice chairman of the International Commission on Large Dams Committee on Seismic Aspects of Dam Design. He was a member of the National Academies Committee for the State of the Art and Practice in Earthquake Induced Soil Liquefaction Assessment, a secretarial appointee to the Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities, and chair of the Governance Board of the National Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation. Lelio has been a lecturer of geotechnical earthquake engineering and a member of the editorial board for the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Geotechnical Engineering and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.