Earthquake team reports from Turkey and Taiwan

Reports are given of visits by the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team to dams in Turkey and Taiwan that have been affected by large earthquakes. The effects of an earthquake on 17 August 1999 on the Yuvaçik dam (a rock and gravel embankment dam with a clay core) and its associated water distribution system and the Gokçi dam (an embankment dam) in Turkey are described. There was no obvious damage to the Gokçi dam. Small horizontal movements occured in the Yuvaçik dam and pipelines were subject to large relative displacements. The effects of an earthquake on 21 September 1999 on the Shihkhang dam and the Sun Moon lake dams in Taiwan are outlined. The southern end of the Shihkhang dam rose about 9m relative to the northern end and the valley width was shortened. The net effect was similar to an axial buckling failure.