Numerical analysis of the seismic response of La Villita dam in Mexico

This paper presents two-dimensional plane-strain static and dynamic finite element analyses of La Villita earth dam in Mexico, which has experienced a number of large earthquakes. Static analyses are employed to simulate the layered construction of the embankment, water impounding and consolidation, whereas dynamic analyses simulate the earthquake events. The static behaviour of the dam is well captured, as evidenced by the predicted and recorded crest settlement. The dynamic behaviour is satisfactorily captured by comparing the accelerations recorded at both the crest and downstream berm of the dam