Non-destructive numerical investigation of local heave/liquefaction through rock-fill dam upon instrumentation data

In maintenance of rock-fill dam, internal damages as any local heave or liquefaction/hydro-fracture outcome after strong earthquake shaking are detected numerically. The proposed model can rationally describe the semi-macroscopic behavior of geo-materials under the effects of any change sensed by overall instrumentation data outcome with regards to the pre-existing values before damages. The solution method is based on satisfying equilibrium, compatibility and minimum energy level as three main nature laws for any porous medium during elastic, plastic, softening, and hardening regimes. Accordingly, any compressive, tensile, shearing on plane conditions created upon experimental tests (under both quasi-static and dynamic conditions) can be numerically simulated. Any changes of displacements, stresses, strains, and even inclinations, excess pore water pressure at measuring points are converted to equivalent nodal effects and are applied to affected nodes to contribute in the solved equations. Therefore, various boundary conditions are applied to corresponding nodes creating damages or cracks as opening/ widening/closing/sliding at predefined sampling planes to change strength/permeability as the effects due to damages. The capability of proposed model in damage progression and fragmentation is investigated through the analysis of any earth structure and rock-fill dam to show the ideal damages across dam body.

Keywords:

instrumentation data , shear banding , liquefaction , hydraulic fracture , damage orientation