Hydraulic Models and Finite Elements for Monitoring of an Earth Dam, by Using GNSS Techniques

This work gives a comparison between different mathematicalmodels for the evaluation of the movements of an earthendam situated between Bivona and Alessandria della Rocca, inthe province of Agrigento (AG), Italy. The models selected areof a hydraulic nature, already tested on concrete dams, andfinite elements models which, on the contrary, exploit geotechnicalparameters. The results obtained from the comparisonof the displacement planimetric components and the relativetime series of data over a period of two years appear to befully satisfactory, in fact using both models of a hydraulic andgeotechnical nature, we reach residues of just mm. To supportthis work, a monitoring procedure using GNSS techniques wastaken into consideration. After that time series of the movementsof some points at the top of the dam were attained inorder to support the data obtained using the models, and to findthe one that gives a better convergence.