Technical Note 5 – Simplified Seismic Analysis Procedure for Montana Dams, November 30, 2020
The Montana Department of Natural resources & Conservation, 2020
Montana's Technical Note 5 provides an updated step-by-step procedure for evaluating embankment dams for seismic stability. Methods for determining liquefaction potential and estimating soil strengths are included.
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has developed this Simplified Seismic Analysis Procedure to help engineers in the state of Montana conduct evaluations for dams under DNRC’s jurisdiction.
Because of the general low level of seismic hazard for most of the state and the limited financial means for dam owners, the DNRC has not generally required sophisticated and expensive seismic evaluations for most of the dams in the state. Instead, the simplified procedure allows an engineer to more quickly decide if additional investigations and higher levels of analysis are warranted, or alternatively if remedial measures or other risk reduction measures should be taken. This report provides updated notes and guidance to help the engineer with each step within the Simplified Seismic Analysis Procedure.
This DNRC Simplified Seismic Analysis Procedure is intended to be applied for seismic shaking of embankment dams that retain water. It is not intended to address potential fault movements within the dam’s foundation or abutments, nor is it to be used to evaluate tailings dams or similar structures.
Original reference page: Montana DNRC Technical Notes
Revision ID: 8082
Revision Date: 09/16/2024