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A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Numerical modelling of transverse cracking in embankment dams
Abstract Internal erosion and piping which can occur in embankment dams, levees, and their foundations is the cause of about half of large embankment dam failures. Most internal erosion and piping failures occur due to concentrated leak erosion which is commonly initiated in a transverse crack in the embankment resulting from cross valley differential settlements. This paper presents the development of suitable numerical simulation procedures for predicting the potential location of transverse cracks, crack width and depth in embankment dams during and post dam construction using a combination of conventional numerical and crack propagation modelling techniques. The crack propagation is simulated based on the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM) combined with the quadtree mesh. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) is used to model the fracture behaviour of the core soil. The Maximum Circumferential Stress Theory (MCST) including the T-stress is adopted as the crack propagation criterion. The developed simulation procedures have been tested with two case studies of dams which have experienced cracking. The predicted location of cracks, crack width and depth show reasonable agreements with the field observations.
Numerical modelling of transverse cracking in embankment dams
Abstract Internal erosion and piping which can occur in embankment dams, levees, and their foundations is the cause of about half of large embankment dam failures. Most internal erosion and piping failures occur due to concentrated leak erosion which is commonly initiated in a transverse crack in the embankment resulting from cross valley differential settlements. This paper presents the development of suitable numerical simulation procedures for predicting the potential location of transverse cracks, crack width and depth in embankment dams during and post dam construction using a combination of conventional numerical and crack propagation modelling techniques. The crack propagation is simulated based on the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM) combined with the quadtree mesh. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) is used to model the fracture behaviour of the core soil. The Maximum Circumferential Stress Theory (MCST) including the T-stress is adopted as the crack propagation criterion. The developed simulation procedures have been tested with two case studies of dams which have experienced cracking. The predicted location of cracks, crack width and depth show reasonable agreements with the field observations.
Numerical modelling of transverse cracking in embankment dams
He, Ke (author) / Song, Chongmin (author) / Fell, Robin (author)
2021-01-19
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Numerical modelling of transverse cracking in embankment dams
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