Analysis of Consolidation of Earth and Rockfill Dams. Volume I. Main Text and Appendices A and B.

摘要

This study was undertaken to develop the theory for analyzing the consolidation of partly saturated clay soils, and subsequently to develop a practical procedure for performing finite element analyses of the behavior of dams during construction, during reservoir filling, and during the development of long-term seepage. The theory developed couples the effects of both stress and flow. It takes account of the varying permeability and compressibility of the pore fluid, and the nonlinear stress-strain behavior of the soil. A number of elastic-plastic, stress-strain relationships are reviewed with respect to their capabilities for modeling the stress-strain behavior of compacted clays. The results of this analysis indicate that the behavior of the dam during consolidation is closely related to the stiffness and degree of saturation of the core. The results of this study indicate that the finite element procedure developed is a potentially useful tool. It seems likely that its greatest value in application will be in connection with interpretation of instrumentation studies for zoned earth and rockfill dams.