Fully Coupled Analysis of Failure and Remediation of Lower San Fernando Dam
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 4
Abstract
The extent of flow deformation in an embankment dam is determined by the driving forces and the residual strength of the soil, as well as by the kinematic constraints. The soil conditions of berm and buttress, as well as of foundation, are also critical factors affecting seismic performance of an embankment dam. A careful examination of these factors is necessary when proposing remedial measures to a seismically deficient dam. This paper presents a set of fully coupled finite element analyses of the response of the well-known lower San Fernando Dam during the 1971 earthquake. A critical state model incorporating the concept of state-dependent dilatancy was employed to describe soil behavior over the full range of loading conditions encountered. The results show clearly that a flow slide occurred on the upstream side, and indicate that a downstream flow slide would occur, too, if the downstream berm had not been constructed before the event. The analyses show also that the addition of an upstream berm could effectively prevent the upstream flow slide.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 4 • April 2003
Pages: 336 - 349
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 24, 2001
Accepted: Jul 8, 2002
Published online: Mar 14, 2003
Published in print: Apr 2003
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