Large-deformation finite element analysis of the interaction between concrete cut-off walls and high-plasticity clay in an earth core dam

Abstract

Purpose A large, uneven settlement that is unfavourable to dam safety can occur between a concrete cut-off wall and the high-plasticity clay of earth core dam built on alluviums. This issue has been often studied using the small-strain finite element (FE) method in previous research. This paper aims to research the interaction behaviour between a concrete cut-off wall and high-plasticity clay using large-deformation FE analyses. Design/methodology/approach The re-meshing and interpolation technique with a small-strain (RITSS) method was performed using an independently developed program and adopted for large-deformation FE analyses, and a suitable element size for the high-plasticity clay region was suggested. The layered construction process of an earth core dam built on thick alluviums was simulated using the RITSS method incorporating a hyperbolic model for soil. Findings The RITSS method is an effective technique for simulating the soil–structure interaction during dam construction. The RITSS analysis predicted a higher maximum principle stress of the concrete cut-off wall and higher stress levels in the high-plasticity clay region than small-strain FE analysis. Originality/value A practical method for large-deformation FE analysis was advised and was used for the first time to study the interaction between a concrete cut-off wall and high-plasticity clay in dam engineering. Large deformation in the high-plasticity clay was handled using the RITSS method. Moreover, the penetration process of the concrete cut-off wall into the high-plasticity clay was captured using a favourable element shape and mesh density.

Application of the particle finite element method for large deformation consolidation analysis

“…the total number of elements is constant during the analysis, resulting in reduced computational cost. Two other ALE based approaches that widely used in geotechnical engineering are the so-called interpolation technique by small strain (RITSS) proposed by Randolph (1998a, 1998b), Yu et al (2017) and the coupled Eulerian Lagrangian (CEL) method (Hibbitt, 2019;Qiu et al, 2011). Although the ALE approaches have been successfully used to solve large deformation problems in geotechnical engineering, they have drawbacks in dealing with problems with extremely large deformation; for example, the freedom in mesh movement has its limits (Soga et al, 2015).…”

Slope Stability Analysis Based on the Explicit Smoothed Particle Finite Element Method

“…Another method that was developed is the remeshing and interpolation technique with small strain (RITSS), which is an ALE-based approach [22,23]. After calculating each deformation step, RITSS conducts frequent mesh resection and variable interpolation according to the updated calculation boundary and repairs the deformed soil mass to avoid excessive distortion in the computed generated mesh [24].…”

A three-dimensional particle finite element model for simulating soil flow with elastoplasticity

“…In geomechanics, this method was used to analyse pipe-soil interactions during large amplitude cyclic lateral displacements where satisfactory agreements were achieved between the simulation results and laboratory testing data [30]. Additionally, the incremental small-deformation theory for large deformation analysis is also the core of the RITSS (Remeshing and Interpolation Technique with Small Strain) method which has been widely examined and used to analyse large-deformation geotechnical problems [26,49,52,59]. It is also notable that this technique has been implemented in 2D PFEM to reproduce challenging large deformation problems such as water dam break, collapse of frictional materials and submarine-landslide-generated waves, for which satisfactory agreements between numerical simulations and laboratory results are achieved [69].…”