Seismic Resistant Effects of Composite Reinforcement on Rockfill Dams Based on Shaking Table Tests

In this article, the seismic resistant effect of a new reinforcement measure on rockfill dams, the Composite Reinforcement, is investigated based on 1-g large-scale shaking table tests. A 1 m high rockfill dam, which is scaled from the Yele rockfill dam in China, is tested by inputting a series of motions designed from a realistic Wenchuan earthquake record. The model dam is divided into two sections, with one section representing a normal rockfill dam (RD) while the other section employing the Composite Reinforcement (composite reinforced rockfill dam (CRRD)). The seismic-resistant effect of the Composite Reinforcement is investigated by comparing the recorded dynamic response of the two dams, in terms of the peak acceleration amplification factor distribution along the dam core, the crest settlement, and the visualized failure pattern. Results show that the application of the Composite Reinforcement can effectively mitigate the seismically induced deformation of the rockfill dam by reducing the peak crest acceleration and residual crest settlement by 18% and 55%, respectively, when subjected to a 0.5 g input motion. The investigation of the captured failure pattern on the two dams further indicates the effective reinforcing effect of the Composite Reinforcement on preventing the sliding failures of rockfill materials in the top 20% height of the dam body.