Concrete Dams That Have Been Subjected to Significant Shaking (PHGA > 0.3 g)

Legend: b=base, c=Crest, est=Estimate, disp.=Displacement, rt abut=Right Abutment, Ht-Height, V=Vertical, Mag=Magnitude (ML or mb for less than 6.5 and MS above 6.5), Surf=Surface, aft=Aftershock, PHGA=Peak horizontal ground acceleration

Dam (completed) Country Ht feet (m) EQ Name and date Dist. To fault miles (km) Mag PHGA (g) Remarks
Lower Crystal Springs (1890) USA 154 (47) 600 (183) San Francisco 18 Apr 1906 0.21 (0.3) 8.3 >0.68 (est) “Not the slightest crack”
Koyna (1963) India 338 (103) 2800 (853) Koyna 11 Dec 1967 1.8(3) 6.5 0.63 Cracks in both faces
Williams (1895) USA 69 (21) 87 (27) Loma Prieta 17 Oct 1989 6 (9.7) 7.1 0.6(est) No damage
Gohonmatsu (1900) Japan 108 (33) 361 (110) Kobe 17 Jan 1995 0 (1km) 7.2 0.83 No damage of this masonry dam
Shih Kang (1977) Taiwan 70 (21.4) 1171 (357) Chi Chi 21 Sep 1999 0 (0) 7.6 0.51 0.53 V Vertical disp. of 29 ft (9 m), Bays rupture
Mingtan (1990) Taiwan 269(82) ? Chi Chi 21 Sep 1999 7.5 (12) 7.6 0.4 to 0.5 (est) No damage
Kasho (1989) Japan 152 (46.4) 571 (174) Western Tottori 6 Oct 2000 1.9 or 5 (3 or 8) 7.3 0.54 b 2.09 c Cracks in Control Building at crest
Uh (1989) Japan 46 (14) 112 (34) Western Tottori 6 Oct 2000 0.6 or 8 (1 to 3) 7.3 1.16 Surf Small crack at spillway base
Miyatoko RCC (1993) Japan 157.5 (48) ?? Tohoku 11 Mar 2011 84 (135) 9.0 > 0.7 No Damage
Takou (2007) Japan 252 (77) 1056 (322) Tohoku 11 Mar 2011 68 (109) 9.0 > 0.4 Cracking of gatehouse walls at crest
Bear Valley (1912, 1988) USA 92 (28) 360 (110) Landers 28 Jun 1992, Big Bear 29 Jun 1992 28 (45), 9 (14.5) 7.4, 6.6 0.57 Multiple arch modified to gravity dam in 1988. No damage, except slight displacement of crest bridge girders
Gibraltar (1920, 1990) USA 169 (52) 600 (183) Santa Barbara 29 Jun 1925 6.3 > 0.3 (est) No damage. Modified in 1990 with RCC
Pacoima (1929) USA 372 (113) 589 (180) San Fernando 9 Feb 1971 3 (5) 6.6 0.6 to 0.8 No cracks in arch. Open joint between arch and thrust block
Pacoima (1929) USA 372 (113) 589 (180) Northridge 17 Jan 1994 11.4 (18) 6.8 0.53 >2.3 c Open joint (2”) between arch and thrust block
Ambiesta (1956) Italy 194 (59) 475 (145) Gemona-Friuli 6 May 1976 12.4 (20) 6.5 0.33 at rt abut No damage
Rapel (1968) Chile 361 (110) 886 (270) Santiago 3 Mar 1985 28 (45) 7.8 0.31 near dam Damage to spillway and intake tower, dam performed well
Techi (1974) Taiwan 607 (185) 951 (290) Chi Chi 21 Sept 1999 7.6 0.5 b 0.86 c Local cracking of curb at dam crest
Shapai RCC (2003) China 433 (132) 820 (250) Wechuan 12 May 2008 7.8 (12) 8.0 > 0.5 (est) No damage
Hsinfengkiang (1959) China 344 (105) 1444 (440) 19 Mar 1962 3 to fault (5) 6.1 0.54 c afs Horiz cracks in top part of dam
Sefid Rud (1962) Iran 348 (106) 1368 (417) Manjil 21 Jun 1990 Near dam site 7.7 0.714 (est) Horiz cracks near crest, minor disp of blocks