9416248 Elgamal Earthquake acceleration histories were recorded on and around eight well instrumented earth dams within a 50 mile radius of the 1994 Northridge earthquake epicenter. These dams were also subjected to strong ground shaking during the 1971 San Fernando, and the 1987 Whittier earthquakes. A large data set of valuable input and response acceleration histories is currently available (Northridge, Whittier, and San Fernando earthquakes) for calibration and verification of simplified as well as elaborate computational analysis procedures. Past analyses of the San Fernando and Whittier recorded accelerations have significantly contributed to our understanding of earth dam seismic response mechanisms; contributions which were possible only through analyses of actual full-scale seismic response. The recently recovered Northridge acceleration histories offer a unique opportunity to build on the results of thorough studies conducted earlier for the Santa Felicia, Puddingstone, Cogswell and Brea dams. The objective of this project is to: (i) conduct a predictive (Class A/B) computational analysis for each dam using the dynamic properties identified earlier from the San Fernando and/or Whittier earthquakes, (ii) critically assess the previously identified earth dam characteristics in view of the newly acquired Northridge data set (of different shaking amplitudes and frequency contents), (iii) define simplified analysis/design procedures, and clearly identify any associated limitations and/or strengths, and (iv) document the identified properties in a database form that includes a large number of modern earth/rockfill dams in Northern California (Lexington, Anderson and Long Valley dams), Southern California (Santa Felicia, Puddingstone, and Brea dams), and Mexico (La Vilita and El Infiernillo dams). ***
