Estimation of Potential Seismic Displacements of Embankment Dams

Includes a Live Web Event on 03/18/2026 at 11:30 AM (MDT)

Registration Closed

While displacements in embankment (earthfill/rockfill) dams can occur due to volume changes and/or due to shear deformations and can be caused by seismic or non-seismic events, this presentation will only cover displacements due to shear deformations induced by a seismic event. Such deformations can be induced during shaking and/or after shaking had stopped.

This presentation explores analytical approaches and empirical methodologies used to estimate seismically induced displacements in embankment dams and will summarize available procedures for conducting such evaluations. These include the use of nonlinear and equivalent linear dynamic analyses and a variety of "simplified approaches". These simplified approaches range from the possible use of empirically based charts to more direct estimation of the seismic driving force on a selected segment (slice) of the embankment or the embankment-foundation system.

Drawing on decades of research and practical experience, the presentation outlines the factors that influence dam performance during earthquakes, including ground motion characteristics, dam geometry, and material properties. Special attention is given to the development of dynamic analyses and the simplified approaches, the assessment of case histories, and the integration of field and laboratory observations to enhance the reliability of displacement estimations.

Izzat (Ed) Idriss

Professor Emeritus of Civil Enginnering

University of California at Davis

Ed Idriss received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966, with a focus on geotechnical earthquake engineering, after earning an M.S. from Caltech and a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He spent 20 years at Woodward-Clyde Consultants, where he rose to Senior Principal and Vice President and helped build the world’s leading geotechnical earthquake engineering consulting team. From 1989 to 2004, he served as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis, and has since held the title of Professor Emeritus. Prof. Idriss is internationally recognized as a leader in geotechnical earthquake engineering and has developed or co-developed many of the analytical procedures used in practice today. His work addresses earthquake ground motions, site response, soil liquefaction, embankment dam performance, and soil–structure interaction. He has participated in post-earthquake investigations of ten major earthquakes worldwide, beginning with the 1964 Great Alaska earthquake. Over more than five decades, he has guided major site-specific studies and served on numerous consulting and review boards. His contributions have significantly shaped the state of practice and knowledge in the field. Prof. Idriss has received numerous professional honors, including election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, and has maintained a long-standing academic and service relationship with UC Berkeley’s Civil and Environmental Engineering program.