Effects of Epicentral Distance and Seismogenic Fault Distance on Seismic Damage of Dams in Wenchuan Earthquake

Epicentral distance and seismogeonic fault distances as crucial ground motion parameters of attenuation relationship are widely accepted indexes for rapid assessment of seismic scenario. Based on the geographical information of 379 heavily damaged dams in Wenchuan Earthquake, 2008, China, the distribution of damaged dams is analyzed statistically. Specifically, the correlation of damage rate & epicentral distance and that of damage proportion & seismogenic fault distance are compared, and corresponding equations are developed respectively using least square methods. The investigation shows that there exists a closer relationship between seismic damage and seismogenic fault distance than between damage and epicentral distance for Wenchuan earthquake. It is concluded that the index of seismogenic fault distance is more applicable to large earthquake, while Epicentral distance is a more accurate index for small and mid-level earthquakes.