2

problem by finite difference methods, indicate that the shear beam type approach
is inadequate in predicting the stresses away from the central part of the cross-
section. Because the design criteria for earth dams are based largely on slope
stability, which is controlled by conditions near the faces of the dam, it is
clear that the shear wedge analysis does not give an adequate measure of the
dam behavior.
The finite element concept has led to the development of a general two
. .
d 1mens1ona 1 d ynam1c
. s t ress ana 1 ys1s
t ec h n1que 5 ) .
0
( At t h e present stage o f
development the method involves the following assumptions and limitations -
(i) the material is isotropic and linearly elastic, and
(ii) the influence of stored water is ignored.
The primary objectives of the investigation reported herein were -

(a) to determine the adequacy of the shear beam approach by

comparing results with those from the two dimensional
finite element method,

(b) to determine the contribution to the response from the

vertical component of ground motion and its significance,
and

(c) using the finite element method, to determine the response

of dams of various heights subjected to different earthquakes.
It was hoped that from these results it will be possible to
derive some general conclusions concerning dependence of the
response of various parameters.

COMPARISON WITH SHEAR WEDGE ANALYSES

The shear wedge approach is restricted to homogeneous symmetrical cross-

sections and can account for horizontal ground motion only. In spite of the
5
generality of application of the two dimensional finite element method$ ( )
it is of interest to compare results from the two approaches for a case where
the shear wedge analysis is applicable.

(5) Clough, R.W., and Chopra, A. K., "Earthquake Stress Analysis in Earth
Dams'', Structural Engineering Laboratory, Report No. 65-8, University
of California, Berkeley, California 9 July 1965.