Overview of the seismic input at dam sites in China

The current Chinese national standard, the Standard for Seismic Design of Hydraulic Structures (GB51247), released in 2018, is strictly based on China’s national conditions and dam engineering features. A comprehensive and systematic overview of the basis of the seismic fortification requirements, the framework of the fortification criteria, and the mechanisms of seismic input related to the seismic design of dams are presented herein. We first analyzed and clarified several conceptual aspects in traditional seismic design of dams. Then, for the seismic input at the dam site described in the first national standard for hydraulic structures, we expounded innovative concepts, ideas, and methods to make relevant provisions more realistic and practical and discussed whether reservoir earthquakes must be included in the seismic fortification framework of dams. This study seeks to incorporate seismic input at the dam site into traditional seismic design practice to promote its improvement from the quasi-static method to the dynamic method and from the closed vibration system to an open wave propagation system, to ensure that the seismic design of dams becomes more reasonable, reliable, scientific, and economic.