Abstract: In this paper, the dynamic failure phenomena of two kinds of model dams, i.e., homogeneous rock fill dams and faced rock fill dams, are investigated by large scale shaking table tests. Numerical simulations of model dams are performed by Discontinuous Deformation Analysis that takes the displacement discontinuity of filled materials and contact between facing slab and dam body into consideration. The results obtained from numerical simulations are consistent with those from the corresponding dynamic experiments. Based on the results from the experiments and numerical simulations, some beneficial conclusions are obtained.