An experimental investigation of the effects of earthquakes on rock-fill dams with earthen cores is described. The tests were performed on (1/150)-scale models of two types of dams-one having an inclined core near the upstream face, and the other having a central core. The models were subjected simultaneously to water loadings and to simulated earthquakes that were generated by the shaking table on which the models were constructed. The test results show that rock-fill dams inherently are resistant to earthquakes because of their flexible structure. No catastrophic slippages occurred in the models when they were subjected to ground accelerations exceeding the acceleration of gravity.
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Clough et al. (1958) studied this question.