Seismic Response Assessment of Al-Adhaim Earth Dam Under Earthquake Loading

Abstract

This paper investigates the seismic response of the Al-Adhaim earth dam using the finite element GeoStudio program. The analysis focuses on pore water pressure, horizontal and vertical effective stresses, displacements, accelerations, and liquefaction potential under a 30-second earthquake record. Four instrumented points were selected on the body of dam: two at the crest (A and B) and two near the core foundation (C and D). Results show that pore water pressure variations remain within safe limits, crest points exhibit higher dynamic response than deep points, and the foundation demonstrates strong damping capacity. Liquefaction zones are limited to upstream saturated sandy layers, while the clay core remains stable. Overall, the dam demonstrates satisfactory seismic performance for the studied scenario of earthquake