Abstract
This paper focuses on the seismic stability analysis of a hydraulic fill dam built in the mid-1920’s. The material properties of the dam were
characterized using data from soil borings, standard penetration, cone penetration and shear wave velocity tests. An effective stress analysis
approach was used for the analysis. A finite difference code, Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAG), provided static and dynamic
shear stresses, excess pore water pressures, and deformations. The results obtained from the effective stress analyses are compared to the
results of liquefaction potential analyses based on SPT and CPT data. For seismic excitation, a real acceleration-time history and a
sinusoidal wave with the same peak ground acceleration are applied to the dam. In addition, constructing a berm to the downstream slope of
the dam and increasing the freeboard by lowering the water level in the reservoir are modeled and analyzed as two different rehabilitation
alternatives. The analysis revealed the following: 1) Limited liquefaction in the core of the dam would take place under the conditions
modeled. 2) The dam would exhibit larger deformations under sinusoidal wave condition, as compared to the real acceleration - time
history. 3) Both of the remediation techniques would significantly improve seismic stability of the dam.
characterized using data from soil borings, standard penetration, cone penetration and shear wave velocity tests. An effective stress analysis
approach was used for the analysis. A finite difference code, Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAG), provided static and dynamic
shear stresses, excess pore water pressures, and deformations. The results obtained from the effective stress analyses are compared to the
results of liquefaction potential analyses based on SPT and CPT data. For seismic excitation, a real acceleration-time history and a
sinusoidal wave with the same peak ground acceleration are applied to the dam. In addition, constructing a berm to the downstream slope of
the dam and increasing the freeboard by lowering the water level in the reservoir are modeled and analyzed as two different rehabilitation
alternatives. The analysis revealed the following: 1) Limited liquefaction in the core of the dam would take place under the conditions
modeled. 2) The dam would exhibit larger deformations under sinusoidal wave condition, as compared to the real acceleration - time
history. 3) Both of the remediation techniques would significantly improve seismic stability of the dam.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages | 99 - 105 |
| State | Published - 2000 |