IS 1893:2016 Part 5 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for criteria for earthquake resistant design of structures - dams and embankments. This code specifies the criteria and methodology for the earthquake-resistant design of concrete, masonry, earth, and rockfill dams and embankments. It provides guidelines for evaluating design seismic coefficients, hydrodynamic pressures, and performing both pseudo-static and dynamic analyses.
Specifies criteria for earthquake resistant design of various types of dams and embankments.
DBE/MCE return periods, pseudo-static and response-spectrum methods, hydrodynamic pressure (Westergaard) and freeboard for dams.
| Reference | Value | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Earthquake-resistant design of dams and embankments | Cl. 1 |
| Importance factor I — large dams (Class A) | 1.5–2.0 | Cl. 5 (Table) |
| Importance factor I — medium dams | 1.0–1.5 | Cl. 5 (Table) |
| Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) — return period | 475-yr (typical) for serviceability | Cl. 4.2 |
| Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) — return period | 10,000-yr / Mmax in tectonic block | Cl. 4.2 |
| Concrete gravity dam — analysis methods | Pseudo-static + Response spectrum + Time history (large) | Cl. 6 |
| Earthen dam — analysis | Pseudo-static (Newmark sliding block) for screening | Cl. 7 |
| Hydrodynamic pressure — Westergaard's | p = (7/8) ρw √(H · y) for vertical face | Annex / Cl. 6.5 |
| Design horizontal coeff. — pseudo-static (DBE) | Per Z, I, R combination from Part 1 | Cl. 5.4 |
| Vertical component | (2/3) × horizontal (or 0.5 × for smaller dams) | Cl. 5.5 |
| Damping — concrete dam (linear) | 5 % (DBE) / 7–10 % (MCE) | Cl. 6.4 |
| Damping — earth/rockfill (DBE) | 10 % (typical) | Cl. 7.4 |
| Liquefaction — assessment mandatory | Foundation cohesionless soil, dam ≥ Class B | Cl. 8 |
| Freeboard — wave + seiche after EQ | Per project (≥1.0–1.5 m typical) | Cl. 7.6 |
| Performance criterion — DBE | No structural damage / no loss of reservoir | Cl. 4.3 |
| Performance criterion — MCE | Repairable damage; reservoir retention | Cl. 4.3 |
| Parameter | IS Value | International | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seismic Zone Factor (Z) / MCEr PGA equivalent | Z = 0.36 for Zone V (highest seismic zone) | Mapped Ss and S1 values up to ~2.0g and 0.8g (MCEr spectral acceleration for short and 1-second period respectively), which can translate to PGA up to ~0.5g or more in high seismic regions. | ASCE 7-16 |
| Soil Classification Types | Type I (Rock/Hard), Type II (Medium), Type III (Soft) | Site Class A (Hard Rock) to F (Special Soils) | ASCE 7-16 |
| Response Reduction Factor (R) for Special RC Moment Resisting Frame (SMRF) | R = 5 | R = 8 for Special Reinforced Concrete Moment Frames | ASCE 7-16 |
| Importance Factor (I / Ie) for Essential Facilities (e.g., Hospitals) | I = 1.5 | Ie = 1.5 | ASCE 7-16 |
| Minimum Cumulative Mass Participation for Dynamic Analysis | At least 90% of the total seismic mass | At least 90% of the total seismic mass | ASCE 7-16 / EN 1998-1:2004 |
| Basic value of Factor for site amplification (similar to Fa, Fv) | Varies based on soil type and time period (e.g. constant 2.5 for T between 0.1 and Ta for Type II soil) | Site Coefficient Fa (short periods) and Fv (long periods), varying with Site Class and mapped spectral accelerations | ASCE 7-16 |