Seismic stability of the Mingechaur dam

The Mingechaur hydraulic-fill gravel-pebble dam with a loamy sand--loam core (Hma x = 80 m) on the Kura River was designed in 1948-1950. Its foundation is composed of alternating beds of clays, siltstones, and sandstones of the Apsheronian stage of the Tertiary having almost a vertical dip [1-5]. The right-bank part of the dam intersects beds at a right angle, and the angle between them decreases toward the left bank. The soils of the foundation belong to category II with respect to seismic properties[6].