After a reservoir has been in operation for a period of time,a sediment layer is likely formed before the dam. Since studies of the effects of sediment layers on the hydrodynamic pressures of impounded water and the aseismic responses of dam are few,the dynamic effect of sediment may be applied neither in the seismic design of new dams nor in the assessment of earthquake safety of existing dams. However,a common practice of the action of sediment layers and foundation is based on a partial energy absorption boundary. It is shown that during a vertical harmonic ground motion,the sediment layer could alter the natural frequencies of reservoir. The dynamic pressure on a rigid vertical dam face caused by the vertical ground motion is obtained through a computational model and an experimental test by using a shaking table. With a change in the thickness of sediment,the frequency corresponding to the inertia amplification effect appears to vary gradually. The results are useful for further study of seismic responses of dams.