Abstract: It is likely to emerge serious problems in the Tacheng Core-wall Rock-fill Dam, whose maximum height is up to 315 m, such as cracks, especially generating at the top of it, and instability of dam slope, when subjected to earthquake. The material of dam body and covering layers were simulated by the Hardin nonlinear dynamic constitutive model. On the basis of nonlinear static analysis, the time-history analysis was carried out to explore the earthquake-resistant characteristics of the high dam. The distribution of acceleration, dynamic displacement and stress in the dam, permanent displacement, and liquefaction were studied in detail. The results obtained from the three-dimensional nonlinear FEM indicate that the dynamical magnification factor is about  2.5  , a tensile stress zone occurs in the region of one half of the dam, dam body evidenttly settles and larger displacement toward downstream also appears, and soil may be liquefied at the foot of the dam partially.

Key words:  high rockfill dam , Taft earthquake wave , dynamic constitutive model , seismic analysis