The Effect of Changing the Geometry and Compaction Degree on Arching of Earth Dams
Publication: Geo-Frontiers 2011: Advances in Geotechnical Engineering
Abstract
Arching of within embankment dams can lead to hydraulic fracturing, which is one of the major problems that sometimes cause failure in these structures. In this research, a two-dimensional model in plain strain condition was used to model arching. The Drucker-Prager model within the Ansys8.0 software was used to simulate soil behavior. Various models were developed to model the dam core, both vertical and inclined-core. To consider compaction rate of embankment soils, some changes in the material properties were performed in the modeling. Results achieved from the models with different geometries show that the least amount of arching occurs at 50 to 80 percent of the dam height. Also, in those dams built with steep slopes, there is small amount of arching. Core slope has much more effect on arching and stress-transmission. A thin inclined-core and a core with a steep slope have more stress transmission than a core with a flatter slope. Also, a dam with a more compacted shell shows little arching. Results of the completed analyses show that cores with higher moisture content have greater stress transmission as well.
Get full access to this chapter
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Apr 26, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Compacted soils
- Dam failures
- Dams
- Design (by type)
- Disaster risk management
- Disasters and hazards
- Earthfill dams
- Embankment dams
- Engineering fundamentals
- Failures (by type)
- Geomechanics
- Geometrics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Highway and road design
- Man-made disasters
- Slopes
- Soil mechanics
- Soil properties
- Soils (by type)
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.