Experimental investigation of a small-scaled model for overflow section of a high gravity dam on shaking table

A 203 m-high concrete gravity dam is a huge structure for which the dynamic responses, damage mechanism, and safety evaluation under an intense earthquake need to be investigated carefully and in detail. This article presents the results of the dynamic failure model test on the overflow section of the aforementioned dam. It presents the seismic characteristics, failure mode, and safety evaluation for the overflow section during a strong earthquake. Two models of the dam section have been tested on the shaking table to simulate earthquake effects in a laboratory. The first model considers the Chinese code seismic wave, while the second model considers the Wenchuan seismic wave, a natural wave. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) of the first crack during testing determines the seismic safety level of the dam, and the locations and forms of cracks at the end of testing indicate the vulnerable areas of the dam under two kinds of earthquake inputting. After the final analysis, the results of the experimental works for the overflow during an earthquake offer an important reference for engineering designers working on anti-seismic design.