Large-scale shaking table model tests on seismically induced failure of Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dams

An increasing number of high Concrete-Faced Rockfill Dams (CFRDs) have been and are being built in highly seismic hazardous regions. Because there are few examples, the failure mechanisms for each damaged CFRD still remain unclear, which prevents a rational evaluation of aseismic performance of a CFRD. In this paper, a series of large-scale shaking table tests are conducted to determine the dynamic failure modes of CFRDs, especially the failure mechanism of the face slab. A type of model slab material is developed according to similitude rules. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used and improved to track the motion of each grain and subsequently measure the entire velocity field of the deforming cross-sections of dam models. The failure processes of the dams, the failure mechanisms of the slab fractures and the slab dislocations are discussed based on the experimental results. The experiments indicate that large deformations of the uppermost part of the dam caused the face slab to curve upward and crack. Another important fracture morphology of the face slab is the dislocation of its joint. The change in the granular fabric caused the granular slope to slide down and thrust outward, eventually dragging the upper half of the face slab down against its lower half; this motion is accompanied by the formation of a joint dislocation. Therefore, the stability and anti-deformation ability of both the downstream slope and the crest region of the upstream slope should be improved to withstand earthquake. The results of the shaking table model tests are consistent with the numerical simulation, and both results support the prototype dam?s seismically induced failure characteristics.