v lotfi - Mahab Ghodss Consulting Engineers, Tehran, I. R. Iran
g khoshrang - Mahab Ghodss Consulting Engineers, Tehran, I. R. Iran
s malla - Electrowatt Engineering Services Ltd., CH-۸۰۳۴ Zurich, Switzerland
m wieland - Electrowatt Engineering Services Ltd., CH-۸۰۳۴ Zurich, Switzerland

The procedure adopted for the earthquake-resistant design of the ۱۲۵ m high Salman Farsi arch-gravity dam located in the seismically very active Zagros mountain range in the southwest of Iran is discussed.For design purposes, the so-called operating basis earthquake (OBE) is relevant, i.e. the maximum static and dynamic tensile stresses under the OBE must be within the allowable tensile stresses of mass concrete. The dynamic stress analysis is carried out using a threedimensional finite element model of the dam-reservoir-foundation system. The criteria for dynamic shape optimization of the dam, the accuracy of the results of the earthquake analysis and the effects of compressible and incompressible reservoir are discussed.