Modelling of in Earthen Dam Under the Effect of Seismic Loading, Case of the Taksebt Dam (Algeria)

Abstract The prediction of displacements in earthen dams after seismic loading is necessary to ensure their proper functioning. In this study, the finite element software plaxis 2D is used to model the nonlinear dynamic behavior (elasto-plastic) of the embankment dam solicited by real seismic records. The earth dam considered in our case study is the Taksebt dam located in the north-east of Algeria. The main steps of the modeling are the following: first the dam of Taksebt was analyzed under seismic stresses without water (empty). Then the dam of Taksebt is subjected to the same seismic records with water (full). The comparison of the study cases allows us to estimate the displacements in the two main directions (horizontal and vertical).The results obtained show the ability to estimate the displacements in an embankment dam under seismic excitation. In addition, the analysis time will be reduced considerably by considering the two extreme cases of seismic loading.