Initial Hypotheses for Modeling and Numerical Analysis of Rockfill and Earth Dams and Their Effects on the Results of the Analysis

Since the behavior of earth dams is unreliable in different stages of construction, impounding, and exploitation, this matter is an unavoidable and essential issue with regard to the serious dangers caused by the failure of these important structures. It is crucial to evaluate the behavior of dams and examine the consistency between the carried out analyses and the behavioral parameters under different conditions in the lifespan of dams due to the uncertainty of the principles and hypotheses which have been adopted to analyze these structures. This objective will be accomplished through the help of correct numerical analyses. A series of hypotheses are adopted to simplify the parametric analyses before starting these analyses. The aim of this research is to develop and discuss these hypotheses. And so, the number of elements and their effects on the results of analyses were examined through the consolidation of unsaturated soil method, the compressible fluid method, correlated analysis, and uncorrelated analysis. It became clear after the numerical analyses that correlated analysis is a more precise method in comparison with the uncorrelated analysis method. However, this method is not economical when it comes to high dams and the replacement method is the uncorrelated analysis. Furthermore, the displacements are not that sensitive to the bulk modulus of water while the maximum settlement of the dam transfers from the middle of the dam's core to a location higher than that the core as the bulk modulus of water increases. However, pore water pressure is very sensitive to the bulk modulus of water.

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