Ch1:Causes of Failure of Earth

Ch2:Dams Criteria for Safe Design

of Earth Dams
Ch3:Slope Stability of Earth Dams

Student name:Ahmed Moayad Jameel

Course:2
Instructor:Sarhan AbdulsitarCTYIGUO
Date:6/7/2020
Table of contante :

Chapter(1):

1.1 – Introduction……………………………………………………(1)

1.2 – Definition………………………………………………………..(2)

1.3 – Conclusion…………………………………………………….(6)

Chapter(2):

2,1 – Intoduction…………………………………………………….(6)

2.2 – objective……………………………………………………..(8)

2.3 – design criteria of earth dam………………………………..(8)

2.4 – conclusion……………………………………………………..(12)

Chapter(3):

3.1 – Introduction……………………………………………………..(12)

3.2 – Fellenius method ………………………………………………..(20)

3.3 – Example………………………………………………………………(23)

3.4 – Conclusion……………………………………………………………..
(24)
Chapter (1)

1.1- Introduction :

Earthen Dams are the dams which are built with highly compacted soil or rock fragments.
Earthen dams and earthen levees are the most ancient type of embankments, as they can be
built with the natural materials with a minimum of processing and primitive equipment. This
dam is classified as a type of embankment dam, being built in the shape of an embankment or
wedge which blocks a waterway. These dams have been built by various human societies for
centuries, and they continue to be produced in some regions of the world when they appear to
be suitable for the location and intended use. Earth dams can be very cost effective to build,
which makes them appealing in some regions of the world. They can be made with local
materials, cutting down on the expenses involved in acquiring and transporting materials to
the dam site. In addition to earth, earth dams also often contain rock, and may be filled with a
core of rock. Clay is another building material utilized in the core region of the earth dams to
fully cut the seepage through the body of the dams. The design of an earth dam may be solid
and consistent all the way through, or it may include layers of material. Layered materials
may create an avenue for drainage which is designed to relieve pressure in emergencies. The
weight of the dam as a whole creates a tight seal which secures the bottom and sides of
thedam and the pressure of the water behind the dam can also act to seal the dam in place.
Likewise mass concrete dams, earthen dams may also be utilized in number of purposes such
as flood control, irrigation, domestic water supply and power generation etc. Numerous
designs can be used and software programs designed for engineering earth dams can be
utilized to test possible scenarios to confirm that the earth dam will be safe once it is finished.
For earthen dams safety measures are very important. It may fail in many ways such as
overtopping, seepage, cracks etc. If the earth dam is overtopped, it can erode the material
from the dam, making it weak and prone to failure. Repeated overtopping can eventually
result in a catastrophic collapse of the dam. Earth dams can also experience seepage and
structural failure caused by poor engineering and planning. An earth fill dam, like other types
of dams, benefits from routine inspection and maintenance. Inspections ensure that any
problems with the dam are identified in the early stages, so that they can be addressed before

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the dam fails. Maintenance keeps the dam in good condition, reducing the risk of a
catastrophic failure which could lead to loss of life and financial losses in communities
located downstream side of the dam .The aim of the present paper is to study critically various
modes of failure of earthen dams and also measures are suggested to control it.

1.2 - definition :

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF EARTHEN DAMS Failures of earthen embankment dams or dikes can
generally be grouped into three categories such as hydraulic, seepage and structural.

1. HYDRAULIC FAILURE:

Hydraulic failures from the uncontrolled flow of water over and adjacent to the embankment
are due to the erosive action of water on the embankment slopes. Various modes of failure of
earthen dams are shown in Table 1. Earth embankments or dikes are not normally designed to
be overtopped and therefore are particularly susceptible to erosion. A well vegetated earth
embankment or dike may withstand limited overtopping if its top is levelled and water flows
over the top and down the face in an evenly distributed sheet without becoming concentrated
in any one area [1, 7].

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 2. SEEPAGE FAILURE :

Most embankments exhibit some seepage. However, this seepage must be controlled in
velocity and quantity. Seepage occurs through the earthen embankment or dike and/or through
its foundation. Seepage, if uncontrolled, can erode fine soil material from the downstream
slope or foundation and continue moving towards the upstream slope to form a pipe or cavity
to the pond or lake often leading to a complete failure of the embankment. This action is
known as “piping.” Seepage failures account for approximately 40 percent of all
embankments or dyke failures. Seepage can also cause slope failures by saturating the slope
material, thereby weakening the adhesive properties of the soil and its stability. Burrows or
holes created by animals such as the groundhog, woodchuck, or muskrat create voids in the
embankment or dyke, which weaken the structure and may serve as a pathway for seepage.
Tree roots can provide a smooth surface for seepage to travel along. When trees die, their
decaying roots may leave passageways for seepage to concentrate in. Pipes through the
embankment may also provide smooth surfaces for seepage to concentrate along as well [1,
7].

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 3. STRUCTURAL FAILURE:

Structural failures involve the separation (rupture) of the embankment material and/or its
foundation. Structural failure of an earthen embankment may take on the form of a slide or
displacement of material in either the downstream or upstream face. Sloughs, bulges, cracks
or other irregularities in the embankment or dike generally are signs of serious instability and
may indicate structural failure Structural failures can occur in either the embankment or the
appurtenances. Structural failure of a spillway, lake drain, or other appurtenance may lead to
failure of the embankment. Cracking, settlement, and slides are the more common signs of
structural failure of embankments. Large cracks in either an appurtenance or the embankment,
major settlement, and major slides will require emergency measures to ensure safety,
especially if these problems occur suddenly. If this type of situation occurs, the lake level
should be lowered, the appropriate state and local authorities notified, and professional advice
sought.

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 4. OTHER TYPE OF FAILURES:

Trees growth on an earthen embankment or dike can be a contributing factor in the failure of
an earthen structure and part of any one of the three previously described type of failures.
Tree growth directly on the crest or top of the structure could lead to a hydraulic failure
should the tree be blown over. This may displace embankment material within the root ball
creating a low area susceptible to flows from the impoundment. Tree root systems may also
create seepage paths through an earthen embankment or dike and structural failure of an
upstream or downstream slope could occur with the displacement of a large tree implanted
within the earth slope.

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1.3 - CONCLUSIONS:

After the critical study regarding failure modes of earthen dams and their remedial measures
it was found that: (i) The Earth Dam may fail by Hydraulic failure. About 40% of earth dam
failure have been attributed to hydraulic failure. These may be due to overtopping, wave
erosion, top erosion and gullying. (ii) The Earth Dam may fail due to excessive seepage. More
than 1/3rd of the earth dams have failed because of these reasons. Uncontrolled Seepage can
erode fine soil material from the downstream slope or foundation and continue moving
towards the upstream slope to form a pipe or cavity to the pond or lake often leading to a
complete failure of the embankment.

Chapter(2):

2.1 - Introduction :

An earth Dam must be safe and stable during phases of construction and operation of the

reservoir. The practical criteria for the design of earth dams may be stated as follows:

a. The embankment must be safe against overtopping during occurrence of the

inflow design flood by the provision of sufficient spillway and outlet works

capacity.

b. The dam must have sufficient free board so that it is not overtopped by wave

action.

c. The seepage line should be well within the downstream face so that no

sloughing of the slope takes place.

d. Seepage through the embankment, foundation and abutments must be

controlled by suitable design provisions so that no internal erosion takes place.

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The amount of water lost through seepage must be controlled so that it does not

interfere with planned project functions.

e. There should be no opportunity for free passage of water from upstream to the

downstream either through the dam or through the foundation.

f. The portion of the downstream of impervious core should be properly drained.

g. The upstream and downstream slopes should be so designed that they are safe

during and immediately after the construction.

h. The downstream slope should be so designed that it is safe during steady

seepage case under full reservoir condition.

i. The upstream slope should be stable during rapid drawdown condition.

j. The upstream and downstream slopes of the dam should be flat enough so that

shear stress induced in the foundation is enough less than the shear strength of

the material in the foundation to ensure a suitable factor of safety.

k. The dam as a whole should be earthquake resistant.

l. The upstream slope must be protected against erosion by wave action, and the

crest and downstream slope must be protected against erosion due to wind and

rain

2.2 – Objective:

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1 criteria for dams subjected to dam safety regulation

2 structural safety of dams

3 safety of dams against floods

4 safety of dams against earthquakes

5 monitoring and maintenance of dams

2.2 - design criteria of earth dam:

Selection of Earth Dam The preliminary design of an earth dam is done on the basis of past
experience and on the basis of the performance of the dams built in the past. Selection is
based on:

a.Top width

b. Free board

c. Casing or outer shells

d. Central impervious core

e. Cut off trench

f. Downstream drainage system

a. Top Width:

Crest width of an earth dam depends on the following considerations:

i. Nature of the embankment materials and minimum allowance percolation

distance through the embankment at normal reservoir level.

ii. Height of the structure

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iii. Width of highway on top of the dam

iv. Practicability of construction

v. Protection against earth quake forces

Empirical expressions for the top width b of the earth dam, in terms of height Z of the dam:

b. Free Board

Sufficient free board must be provided so that there is no possibility whatsoever of the

embankment being overtopped. The USBR suggests the following free boards:
table (2)

c. Casing or Outer Shells

The function of casing or outer shells is to impart stability and protect the core. The relatively

pervious materials, which are not subject to cracking on direct exposure to atmosphere, are

suitable for casing.

Table(3)
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The design slopes of the upstream and downstream embankments may vary widely, depending

on the character of the materials available, foundation conditions and height of the dam. The

slopes also depend upon the type of the dam

Side Slopes for earth Dams According to Terzaghi:

Table(4)

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 d. Central Impervious Core

The minimum safe thickness of the central impervious core depends on the following factors:

i. Tolerable seepage loss

ii. Maximum width that will permit proper construction

iii. Types of the materials available for the core and the shells

iv. Design of the proposed filter layers

v. Precedent on similar projects

The shear strength of core materials is always lesser than the rest of the embankment. Hence a

thinner shell is preferable from the point of view of stability.

e. Cutoff Trench

Cutoff is required to:

i. Reduce loss of stored water through foundation and abutments

ii. Prevent sub-surface erosion by piping.

f. Downstream Drainage Filter zones are provided in earth dams to provide drainage in order
to reduce pore pressure in the downstream portion.

2.3 - Conclusion:

1. The upstream and downstream faces are properly protected against wave action
2. There should not be any possibility of free passage of water through the embankment or
through the foundation
3. The foundation , abutments ,and embankment must be stable for all conditions of operation
4. The dam as a whole should be earthquake resistant

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Chapter(3):

3.1 - Introduction :

The study of slope stability is important in the design and construction of the earth dams
under influence of earthquake and some surcharge loads. Some factors affect the slope
stability for the

earth dam such as change the water level in the reservoir or rapid drawdown of the water
level. In the present study, limit equilibrium methods and finite element method have been
used to calculate the factor of safety of earth dam. The main objective is studying the
influence the soil strength parameters including cohesion, angle of internal friction and unit
weight of soil on the values of factor of safety of the upstream slope for earth dam. The results
show that the values of factor of safety increase when the values of soil strength parameters
(cohesion, angle of internal friction)and water level increased, and the value of unit weight of
the soil decrease, and the values of factor of safety, decreasing fast in rapid draw down of the
water level. The main conclusion is the stability of the earth dam increases when the soil
strength parameters (cohesion, angle of internal friction) increase and unit weight of the soil
decrease with increasing the water level in the reservoir and the earth dam may be exposed to
the collapse in the case of the rapid drawdown of water level. Slope stability is important in
the design and construction of earth dam because exposed to dangerous conditions for the end
of construction that mean no water level in reservoir (dry condition for upstream side
slope)and rapid drawdown condition when the removal upstream water pressure that
supported the slope for earth dam, it causes a danger to the upstream slope . There are many
methods for slope stability analysis to assessment factor of safety such as (limit equilibrium
and Finite element) methods by computer software, the limit equilibrium including different
methods (Ordinary, Bishop, Janbu ,Morgenstern-price and Spencer) these methods applying
the computer program SLOPE/W is applied to define the potential slip surface and calculate
the factor of safety of homogenous earth dam under change water level condition and rapid
draw down for the reservoir with time. The minimum required of factor of safety for earth
dams equal (1.3) for upstream slope (1)

KEYWORDS: Earth dam, Slope stability, Simulation and analysis

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.

Slope Stability Analysis of the Earth Dams:

The slope stability against failure is discussed in this section. Slope behavior is affected when

additional seepage is developed within the dam due to an abnormal situation. Such seepage

produces additional pore water pressure which causes a reduction of the effective stress and

therefore the shear strength of the soil. In addition, seepage increases the driving shear force
by

producing added seepage forces. Lastly, seepage may also cause a change in overall soil
strength

properties by either reducing or eliminating the cohesive strength.

Water waves acting on the upstream face of the dam can also lead to erosion of the slope soil.

Further erosion causes cracking on the slope which extends to the dam crest and, in turn,
reduces

the crest width increasing the risk of collapse. One of the common methods to protect the
upstream

slope against wave erosion is placing a layer of the rock riprap over a bedding layer and a
filter

material. The additional weight of the rock increases the slope stability of the dam. However,
this

type of protection is not included in the current research for the stability analysis.

The stability analysis of the finite slope has been studied in much detail. The current research
uses Spencer’s Method for slope stability analysis against sliding failure considering seepage.
Figure (4) shows a typical assumed slip surface and the balance of forces acting an element of
this finite slope. As seen in the figure, the element ABCD consists of the self-weight, the
seepage force Js, the lateral forces (Uj, Uj+1, Ej, and Ej+1), and the reaction force (𝑇𝑗) from
the soil at the bottom of the element. The flow gradient is also different at different regions in

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the element. The location of the seepage force is on the center of gravity of the element in the
same direction as the flow.

Figure (4): Circular and non-circular slip surface in an earth slope and the force diagram in an element
(Budhu, 2011).

Factor of Safety Against Sliding

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The computation of the factor of safety against sliding failure depends on the driving shear
forces

and the shear strength of the soil. The components of the driving shear forces are self-weight
of

soils while the shear strength of soils is based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with

components of cohesion and friction resistance of soils. The shear strength is defined as:

The critical surface in the finite slope could be the interface between the top soil mass and a
cylindrical base. The sliding failure of the critical surface takes place when the driving shear
forces are larger than the shear strength of soils. Therefore, the factor of safety (FS) against
sliding is defined as:

Where 𝜏 is the shear strength of soils, and 𝑇 is the net driving shear force. U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers (2003) specifies the following: a minimum required a factor of safety against
sliding failure for the upstream slope of 1.1 for a rapid drawdown from the maximum
surcharge pool; 1.3 for the rapid drawdown from the maximum storage pool; and a minimum
of 1.4-1.5 for routine drawdown conditions.

Driving Forces in the Finite Slope

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Taylor (1948) described some important concepts to different sets of slope conditions; the dry
condition=, the submerged condition, the drawdown condition, and the steady-state condition.
The 93 force balance of finite slope under dry condition consists of the dry weight of soil
(𝑉𝛾𝑑), the resultant normal force on the failure plan (𝑃𝐵), and the shear strength available on
the failure plan, as shown in Figure (5) The force required for equilibrium is not necessarily
equal to the shear strength available on the failure plan. The dry weight of the soil alone
contributes to the resultant normal force on the failed plane and is the force required for
equilibrium.

(Figure (5): The dry case of the slope (Reddi, 2003; Taylor, 1948)

When the reservoir is filled with water (Figure 6), the presence of water under submerged
condition leads to two hydrostatic forces, one from the reservoir (𝑈2) and the other from the
water filled the soil voids (𝑈1). The combination of these hydrostatic forces effectively
reduces the dry weight of soil (𝑉𝛾𝑑) to the submerged weight (𝑉𝛾𝑏). The weight of water
filling the soil voids (𝑉𝛾𝑤) is just supported by the hydrostatic forces. For this case, the factor
of safety can be calculated by using the equation:

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 Figure (6): The submerged case (Taylor, 1948)

In the sudden drawdown condition (Figure 7), the analysis of forces is the combination of the

same force in the submerged case (Figure 6) and the required force for the equilibrium Figure

(7). The hydrostatic force of the water reservoir (𝑈2) is eliminated while the hydrostatic force
of

the water filling the voids (𝑈𝐴) remains the same for a long period of time because of
permeability

of the soil. The hydrostatic force (𝑈2) forms a balanced force with the water weight (𝑉𝛾𝑤)
and the

elimination of this force can cause critical loading condition. The hydrostatic force (𝑈𝐴)
becomes

a natural force acting across the failure plane and must pass through the point O (Figure 6.9a).
the

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force (𝑈𝐴) is a combination force of the submerged weight (𝑉𝛾𝑏) and the water weight
(𝑉𝛾𝑤),

(Figure 6.9b). An additional cohesion (𝐶𝐴) is required in the drawdown case for the
equilibrium,

which is larger than the force (CB) in the submerged case. The total required cohesion force
for

equilibrium is (𝐶𝑇) which is the result of the force (𝐶𝐵) and the force (𝐶𝐴).

The slope stability at the upstream side of the earth dam depends on several factors, such as
soil

properties, slope grading, and the pore water pressure developed when the reservoir level is
changed. The difference in the total head between the reservoir and inside the earthen
structural will cause a flowing of the water between the slope face at the upstream. The factor
of safety is estimated by using the equation:

Figure
(7): Friction circle method for the drawdown case (Taylor, 1948).

After the drawdown event, the excess pore water pressure begins to dissipate until it reaches a

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steady-state condition after a certain period, depending on the soil permeability. Figure (8)

presents the force balance diagram for the steady-state condition at the dam slope. The
magnitude

and the direction of the neutral force (UIII) are changed leading to a more stable force (B)

incorporation to the drawdown case. In addition, the required cohesion (CIII) become smaller
(more

favorable) than that in the drawdown case. Thus, the factor of safety against sliding becomes
higher than that in the drawdown case.

Figure (8): Analysis of the steady seepage case (Reddi, 2003; Taylor, 1948).

3.2 - Fellenius method :

The Fellenius (or Swedish) Solution In this method, the resultant of the inter-slice forces is
assumed to be zero i.e. the forces of X and E are not considered in the analysis.( Figure 8)
shows the free body diagram for a slice

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Figure(8): Fellenius method

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In the above formulae, c is the cohesion of the soil and T is the tangential component of W
and it is the sliding force. The sliding force is balanced by the shear strength of the soil which
is the right side of the above formula.

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3.3 - Example :

Example : For the following cross section of dam with shown slip surface and the data
tabulated below, compute the factor of safety against sliding. γ is 30 KN/m3 , φ is 32 and c is
16 KPa.

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 Slic h B α u Area W N U N-U c *L
T
e (m) (m) deg KPa m2 KN KN KN KN KN
KN

4.9 53.7 10.3 311. 184.5 251.2 184.5 134.5

1 0 0 0
8 0 9 7 3 0 3 9

4.3 4.9 38.3 26.7 802. 629.1 497.7 158.7 470.3 101.6
2 25
9 8 5 4 2 1 3 5 6 0

6.3 4.9 26.2 39.1 31.3 941. 844.4 415.5 217.1 627.2
3 88.80
5 8 0 2 7 1 0 0 2 8

6.2 4.9 15.1 44.2 27.7 831. 803.1 216.8

4 228 575.1 82.53
5 8 2 0 3 9 0 3

4.8 4.9 36.2 19.6 588. 586.3 180.9

5 5 51.29 405.4 79.98
9 8 0 2 6 6 6

2.9 4.9 - 14.3 223. 222.2 - 150.7

6 7.44 71.50 80
9 8 5.20 0 2 8 20.22 8

1412.33 2413.45 567.5

Area = (h1+h2/2)*b

W = area *γ

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N = W cos α

T = W sin α

U = L*u

L = b /cos α

Factor of safety =
∑ ( c . l +( N−U ) tan φ )
∑T

Factor of safety =
∑ ( 567.5+(2413.45) tan 32 ) = 1.46 it is ok
1412.33

3.4 - Conclusion :

Dam – high economic and political importance ,critical role in agriculture ,development of
urban and rural areas,water supply

Slop stability analysis is very important to ascertain the stability of the structure ..it depends
on its geometry, iits comonents,material,properties of each component and the forces to
which it is subjected

A Failure of earth dam is attributed to the following : hydraulic failure ,seepage failure,

Refrence:

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1) Ambikaipahan, R (2011), “Failure of an earth dam”, Master Thesis in Geosciences,
University of Oslo.
2) B.I.S. (2001) Code 14954, “Distress and Remedial Measures in Earth and Rock fill
Dams — Guidelines”, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
3) Abramson, L. W., Lee, T. S., Sharma, S., & Boyce, G. M. (2002). Slope Stability and
Stabilization Methods (2 nd Edition). Wiley.
4) Al-Adhaim Earth Dam - Final Report. (1994). Unpublished Report, Enginnering
Consultancy Buereau, University of Baghdad, Iraq.
5) Al-Majid, S. J. (2008). Natural Ingredients for the Great Lake Dam And Its Impact in
the Development of Tourism Demand. Iraq Academic Scientific Journals, (71), 207–
231.
6) file:///C:/Users/ahmed/Downloads/386406887-Dam-Lecture-14-Design-Criteria-
Earth-Dams.pdf

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