Seepage and slope stability analysis are essential for the safe design of an earth dam and are usually carried out using steady state seepage analysis. However, the transient pore-water pressure build-up and its effect on slope stability have drawn little attention. The present study is concerned with the stability analysis of an earth dam under transient pore water pressure build-up under reservoir full condition. An unsteady variably saturated numerical flow model is developed to obtain the transient pore-water pressure distribution in the dam section. The numerical model is developed using fully implicit finite difference scheme. The model predicted transient pore-water pressure is used in the slope stability analysis, which is carried out using the modified Bishop's method. The results indicate that the unsaturated soil properties have significant effect on the downstream slope factor of safety under unsteady conditions. However, their effect is insignificant at steady state. In contrast, the effect of anisotropy is quite significant even after the attainment of steady state.
Want to read the full paper?
To purchase a copy of this Dam Engineering paper, please email the Editor, Carrieann Davies, on: cdavies@wilmington.co.uk or fax: +44 (0) 20 8269 7804.
Please include your name, postal address, credit card number and issue number.
The cost is £20 sterling for each paper, postage & handling free.
Your order will be confirmed by email. We aim to dispatch your order within 48 hours of receipt.
