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Evaluation of the Behavior of Silveh Earth Dam During Construction, Initial Impounding and Operation Period Using Instrumentation Data and Numerical Modeling

Boroumand, Ehsan | 2025

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 58640 (09)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Civil Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Jafarzadeh, Fardin
  7. Abstract:
  8. Monitoring the stability and behavior of dams during construction, first impoundment, and operation is essential for predicting and controlling their performance. In earth dams, pore water pressures, total stresses, and displacements within the core and shell are measured through instrumentation during these stages, providing the basis for evaluating the dam’s stability. In clay-core earth dams, increased pore water pressure during construction and initial impoundment may trigger or accelerate hydraulic fracturing, while limited deformation and low arching ratios also play key roles in maintaining stability. Back-analysis of instrumentation data and continuous monitoring during construction and operation enable reliable estimation of geotechnical parameters and assessment of structural safety. In this study, the construction stages, first impoundment, and operational period of the Silveh earth dam were modeled in three dimensions using FLAC3D 7.0, and the numerical results were compared with corresponding instrumentation data. The comparison of measured and computed settlements indicated considerable variation in the stiffness of different dam layers, particularly within the shell materials, and revealed that 19% of the total settlement occurred during the initial impoundment, reflecting a reduction in the mechanical properties of the upstream zone similar to post-impoundment behavior in rockfill dams. While measured total stresses were generally consistent with numerical predictions, the recorded pore water pressures differed significantly, and analysis of their temporal trends suggests malfunctioning of several piezometers at the Silveh dam
  9. Keywords:
  10. Earth Dam ; Three Dimensional Numerical Modeling ; Instrumentation ; Pore Water Pressure ; FLAC Software ; Displacement Mechanism

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