Seismic Deformations of Different Size Embankments on a Spatially Variable Liquefiable Deposit

2019 Outstanding Young Professional Paper - Nonlinear deformation analyses (NDAs) are commonly used to assess the expected deformations of embankment dams and levees that are subjected to earthquake loading. Knowledge of the local geology along with site explorations (borings, lab tests, etc.) are used to assess input properties for NDAs. Seismic analyses of the embankments are then performed using several different motions (consistent with the seismic hazard) on NDA models with uniform properties (called uniform models) intended to produce reasonable system-level responses.