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Performance of San Fernando dams during 1994 Northridge earthquake

Journal Article · · Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
 [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (United States). Civil Engineering Dept.
  2. Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, CA (United States)

The 1994 Northridge and 1971 San Fernando Earthquakes subjected the Lower and Upper San Fernando Dams of the Van Norman Complex in the San Fernando Valley, Calif., to strong near-source ground motions. In 1994, these earth dams, which were out of service and retained only a few meters of water, extensively cracked and settled due to the liquefaction of their hydraulic fill. The Lower San Fernando Dam moved over 15 cm upstream as the hydraulic fill liquefied beneath its upstream slope. The Upper San Fernando Dam moved even more and deformed in a complicated three-dimensional pattern. The responses of the Lower and Upper San Fernando Dams during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, although less significant than in 1971, provide the geotechnical engineering community with two useful case histories.

OSTI ID:
390055
Journal Information:
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 122; ISSN 0733-9410; ISSN JGENDZ
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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