Despite of the intensive development of sophisticated dynamic analysis methods and their implementation in the field of Dam Engineering in the last decades due to the explosive increase of the computational power of modern computers, the pseudo-static equivalent-force approach is still being further developed due to its ability to provide fast and simple estimation of some response parameters of the dam under earthquake excitation. This statement is proved by some recent publications in this field continuing to focus the attention of the practicing engineers on such as far as possible simple tools yet providing realistic results.

The present work deals with the example application of such simple pseudo-static response analysis method to a Bulgarian rockfill dam with asphalt concrete core. The procedure applied was developed in a series of works by Dr. Max A.M. Herzog for embankment dams under basic operational loads as well as for seismic excitation. The obtained results are compared with the results from sophisticated dynamic analysis procedures for the same dam carried out with well-established finite element analysis software. Based on these comparisons, conclusions are drawn about the applicability of the used simplified method for the case of
seismic loading on rock-fill dams with bituminous cores.