Computer Simulation of Sequential Impoundment Process of Concrete-faced Rockfill Dam

Abstract

A procedure is presented for simulating the sequential impoundment process of concrete-faced rockfill dam using nonlinear finite element method. The parameters of constitutive relationship of stress and strain are determined by tri-dimensional compression test in laboratory. The model applied in this study adopts the technique of element birth and death to simulate the sequential impoundment process of concrete-faced rockfill dam with time. Duncan and Chang's model is adopted herein to define the non-linear stress-strain behaviour of the rockfill materials and is used to simulate the prototype behavior of various components of the dam in sequential nonlinear analysis and some representative results are presented.

Numerical Simulation of Stability Analyzing for Unsaturated Slope with Rainfall Infiltration

“…The rainfall infiltration produces a downward flux that changes the water content and pore-water pressure gradients with depth, hence reduces the soil shear strength and subsequently triggers the slope failure [4]. Rainfall infiltration and suction variation in unsaturated soils must be taken into consideration in the analysis of most slope stability problems, particularly in the southern rainy area where the annual precipitation is high [5].…”

Numerical Simulations on Effects of Unloading on Occurrence of Rock Lateral Cracks

“…But Liu and Kou [2,3,5] proposed that the lateral cracks can be formed in the process of loading under confining pressure, that is the residual stress is not the only reason of lateral cracks, or at least not the principal reason. Li et al presented a procedure for simulating the sequential impoundment process of concrete-faced rockfill dam using nonlinear finite element method and the birth and death of elements technique [9]. In addition, some researchers have performed the research on the effect of confining pressure on the lateral crack [10,11].…”