2D & 3D nonlinear numerical analyses have been performed for the highest dam with asphalt concrete core in Iran (Shur River Dam) under seismic forces. The dam has 85 meters height and is under Construction in an area with high earthquake hazard with MDE equal to 0.8 g. Different stages of construction and impounding were analyzed using the hyperbolic model with Finite Difference Method. Nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed to investigate asphaltic core behavior under earthquake loading. Both 2D & 3D analysis confirms that earthquake shock can lead to developing some small cracks and increasing permeability of asphalt in the upper part of the core, also maximum vertical deformations occur near the crest and at the lower part of the upstream slope. But there are some differences between 2 & 3D analysis. The pattern of the core deformation in 2D analysis includes settlements of the shells behind the asphaltic core and the core remains upright but 3D analysis shows that the core can settle with the neighbor shells. Furthermore 2D analysis shows more settlements and less crest accelerations in comparison with 3D analysis. Shear strains in the asphaltic core have different trends in the two types of analyses.

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