ALI M. OSKOOROUCHI - Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
GUIDO DE ROECK - Professor, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

A finite element model capable for dynamic loading has been employed to predict the earthquake induced displacement of an earth dam. This has been used for an actual engineering problem. Sonbul-Rud is an embankment dam under construction in north Iran which has been designed by one of the authors. The actual data of the Armenian Earthquake, ۱۹۸۸, recorded at a single strong- motion station (GUKASIAN) about ۳۰ KM far from the fault has been used. The epicenter of the Armenian E.Q. is about ۸۰۰ KM far from Sonbul-Rud site, and is one of the most recent recorded strong-motion E.Q.s in the area. The E.Q. induced displacements of Sonbul-Rud dam have been determined using two different procedures : first by constructing the Response Spectrums of the Armenian E.Q. and applying the acceleration R.S. on the dam, and second, by using the actual Acceleration time history. Using an actual time history will allow the engineer to make a more careful and design. Next it has been attempted to find a more logical criterion for the dynamic stability of embankment dams during E.Q.. This is particularly important when compared with the limit equilibrium (pseudostatic) methods, where displacement is not involved