Comparison of short and tall embankment dams by considering stress-strain and static stability analyses

The main objective in designing a dam is to achieve a structure that store water and in addition prevents seepage towards the downstream. Thus, the present study examined the effect of height on upstream and downstream slope stability of heterogeneous embankment dams with the same characteristics but with different heights at the end of construction and Steady-State Seepage and Rapid Drawdown. To compare the differences between the structural behavior of short and tall dams, two dams with a height of 62 meters and 133 meters and 6 meters crest width were modeled in Geostudio software. The embankment dam is composed of 14 different areas with different characteristics. To analyze the dam stability, SLOP/W and to model the movement of water in dam due to presence of water behind the dam in a Rapid Drawdown and Steady-State, seepage SEEP/W in Geostudio was used. Also, in another study the stress-strain analysis is conduct to investigate the behavior of these two different dams according to these criteria. For the stress-strain analysis of dam, SIGMA/W in Geostudio was used and the results showed that the stresses and displacements created in shorter dams is less than the dam with higher heights. Finally, the obtained safety factors in two dams with different height are compared with each other and the obtained safety factor was compared with USBR safety factor. This research showed that the safety factor is safer for 62 meters dam. The safety factor in shorter dam is safer than long dam. Moreover, the results showed that the stresses and displacements created in shorter dams is less than the dam with higher heights.

Keywords:

Embankment dam , Height , Geostudio , Slope/w , Stress-strain analyses