Abstract: Hydropower projects are key infrastructures in the development and utilization of China’s green and clean energy, flood control and disaster reduction, and they will be an important part of the major infrastructure projects for a long time. At present, high dams are core hydropower structures, and their seismic safety of operation is a crucial issue. This paper presents a comprehensive review on the developing history and current situation of high dam seismic safety in China and other countries, and examines thoroughly the problems existing in the current research. It indicates that the research on aseismic dam design in China has been already at a globally advanced level, but many technical challenges still exist in the design of 300 m high dams. Particularly, no substantial breakthrough has yet been achieved in the idea or methodology of aseismic designs, making it difficult to meet the requirements of rapidly developing practice of 300 m high dams. This may bring about potential risks as more and more projects begin to operate. In view of the present situation, this paper elaborates in four aspects the future development trend and key scientific problems in high dam seismic safety research, which would be useful for the decision-making of national key project construction and sustainable development.

Key words: high dam, earthquake resistance, development trend, key scientific problem