General Approach to Seismic Stability Analysis of Earth Embankment Dams Donald H. Babbitt, P.E.1 and Stephen W. Verigin, P.E. The State of California is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Micro-seismic earthquakes occur daily and major earthquakes, with the potential of threatening life and property occur frequently. In the last decade over 100 residents lost their lives during the Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes in October, 1989 and January 1994 respectively. Most of the fatalities resulted from bridge and building failures. Significant structural damage was incurred at a number of dams (Refs. 2 and 16), but there were no failures in either event.
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