Seismic Performance Evaluation of Agricultural Reservoir Embankment through Shaking Table Tests

Abstract

In this study, shaking table tests were performed to compare and analyze the acceleration response, displacement behavior, and pore-water pressure behavior of reservoirs with parapets installed to prevent overtopping of deteriorative homogeneous reservoirs. During the shaking table tests, the experimental conditions were divided into four cases considering the range and magnitude of seismic acceleration according to national standards. The vibration-type waveform (Gongen) and shock-type waveform (Minogawa) were applied as input waveforms. The acceleration amplification ratios of both vibration- and shock-wave types were the largest in the dam crest, and the amplification ratio decreased as the design earthquake acceleration increased. In addition, the horizontal displacement was maximum on the upstream slope, owing to the influence of seepage water, and the vertical displacement was maximum on the dam crest, owing to the self-weight effect of the parapet structure. A comparison of the waveform results indicates that the vibration-type waveform may exhibit a more significant effect on the embankment zone displacement than the shock-type waveform. However, when the safety standards for the horizontal displacement, settlement ratio, and excess pore-water pressure ratio were applied, the embankment was stable within the allowable range in both the shock-type and vibration-type waveforms. Therefore, the parapet structure is expected to influence the overflow resistance and stability of embankments positively.