Abstract In this study, the damage degree for dams under earthquakes has been estimated. Two different methodologies for two different dams (concrete and embankment) have been developed, where the main objective is to quantify the usefulness and priority of considering damage as the only parameter for one type of dam rather than another. The first method evaluates the performance and response curves of a concrete dam by considering the crest displacements as a function of cumulative inelastic displacements. Hnece, the damage degree is estimated by calculating the area under these curves. For this purpose, analytical analyses have been carried out. The second method, for embankment dams, consists of detailing several categories that describe the possible damage of the dam-reservoir system, which are combined and weighted against each other in order to provide a comprehensive overall damage degree. Hence, through quantitative relations, the damage degree can be estimated. The results show that, for concrete dams, damage due to large displacements is not a significant issue requiring further investigation, as it is a rare phenomenon, whereas for earth dams this aspect appears more relevant. Both methods are relatively simple and therefore suitable for preliminary analyses aimed at planning maintenance interventions; however, this simplicity entails some limitations, such as the neglect of dam-water-foundation-sediments interaction and non-linear material behaviour.
Jiang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.