MODEL TEST AND CONSOLIDATION ANALYSIS OF FAILURE OF A LOOSE SANDY EMBANKMENT DAM DURING SEEPAGE

• HORI TOSHIKAZU

  Department of Geotechnical and Hydraulic Engineering, National Institute for Rural Engineering

• MOHRI YOSHIYUKI

  Department of Geotechnical and Hydraulic Engineering, National Institute for Rural Engineering

• KOHGO YUJI

  Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

• MATSUSHIMA KENICHI

  Department of Geotechnical and Hydraulic Engineering, National Institute for Rural Engineering

Abstract

Failures of earth dam embankments and river dikes, which are constructed of sandy soils with low dry densities, have been observed to occur during rising of water levels. In this paper, a large-scale physical model test was conducted in order to investigate the behavior of a small dam embankment as water levels rose. The test results were simulated by use of a consolidation analysis method coupled with an elastoplastic model for unsaturated soils. All parameters used in the simulation were obtained from element tests; oedometer, triaxial compression, soil water retention, and permeability tests. First, in order to verify the parameters identified, direct shear tests were simulated using the consolidation analysis method; results of the simulation and the tests were consistent. From the embankment model test it was found that the crest of the embankment moved upstream at the first stage of impounding and then moved back. After a seepage surface appeared on the downstream slope, tension cracks occurred on the downstream slope, and sliding occurred through the crack and the downstream toe. The results of the simulation were consistent with those of the model test. This consolidation analysis method could be used to simulate the complex deformations induced by saturation collapse and shear strains and even failure behavior. Old embankments constructed with loose densities might have histories in which cracks occurred on the downstream slopes when the reservoir water level rose, and their stabilities might have decreased.<br>

Journal

• SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS

  SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS 51 (1), 53-66, 2011

  The Japanese Geotechnical Society

Keywords

• box shear test
• (embankment dam)
• failure
• <u>model test</u>
• <u>numerical analysis</u>
• (rising of water levels)
• <u>(saturated and unsaturated consolidation analysis)</u>
• (<b>IGC</b>: E7/E14/H4)

Details

• CRID: 1390282679642815232
• NII Article ID: 130004552472
• DOI: 10.3208/sandf.51.53
• ISSN: 18811418
• ISSN: 00380806
• Web Site: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0038080620301128?httpAccept=text/xml
• Web Site: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0038080620301128?httpAccept=text/plain
• Text Lang: en
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed