Sharif Digital Repository

Dam failure can result in a catastrophic break followed by a ood wave, often with considerable loss of life or property. One of the main causes of dam failure is loss of shear strength and the existence of discontinuity within the foundation. Dynamic analysis of concrete dams usually considered concrete behavior to be nonlinear and the foundation rock is assumed to be linear. In this study, seismic analysis of a concrete gravity dam was conducted to investigate the effect of the foundation on the nonlinear response. A finite element model of a dam-reservoir-foundation was considered to properly model the foundation as well as dam body nonlinear behaviors. An elasto-plastic formulation was... 

In this study, application of Limit Equilibrium (LE) and Finite Element Model (FEM) analyses have been presented and discussed for support design of a 30-m deep excavation in Tehran. A combination of nailing and strand anchorage with block system were designed and used to support the vertical cut in multiple steps of excavation. In this regard, safety factors have been assessed based on LEM using Mohr-Coulomb model, while deformations were estimated using the Hardening Soil model in an FEM platform. Comparison of the design models and field monitoring of deformations indicate a reasonably well performed engineering approach which can be implemented in similar projects in dense urban areas.... 

A finite difference-based numerical model simulating the cone penetration process in unsaturated sands is presented. Mohr–Coulomb model (MCM) with simple modifications and Sun model (SM) were implemented to capture the unsaturated sand behaviour. It was shown that the cone tip resistance values resulting from the two models were fairly comparable. Predicted cone tip resistance values in dry, saturated and unsaturated sands using MCM were validated by the results of field and calibration chamber tests. Sensitivity analyses were performed, and the influence of parameters including relative density, mean effective stress and apparent cohesion due to suction on the tip resistance was...