Publication detail

Discussion on the Safety Factors of Slopes Recommended for Small Dams

VRUBEL, J. ŘÍHA, J.

Original Title

Discussion on the Safety Factors of Slopes Recommended for Small Dams

Type

journal article in Scopus

Language

English

Original Abstract

The design and assessment of the slope stability of small embankment dams is usually not carried out using slope stability calculations but rather by the comparison of proposed or existing dam slopes with those recommended by technical standards or guidelines. Practical experience shows that in many cases the slopes of small dams are steeper than those recommended. However, most of such steeper slopes at existing dams do not exhibit any visible signs of instability, defects or sliding. For the dam owner and also for dam stability engineers, the safety of the slope, expressed e.g. via a factor of safety, is crucial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety margin provided by recommended slopes. The factor of safety was evaluated for several dam shape and layout variants via the shear strength reduction method using PLAXIS software. The study covers various dam geometries, dam core and shoulder positions and parameter values of utilised soils. Three load cases were considered: one with a steady state seepage condition and two with different reservoir water level drawdown velocities – standard and critical. As numerous older small dams lack a drainage system, variants with and without a toe drain were assessed. Calculated factors of safety were compared with required values specified by national standards and guidelines.

Keywords

small water reservoirs, slope stability, factor of safety

Authors

VRUBEL, J.; ŘÍHA, J.

Released

6. 3. 2017

Publisher

Mendel University Press

Location

Brno

ISBN

1211-8516

Periodical

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis

Year of study

Volume 65

Number

2/2017

State

Czech Republic

Pages from

569

Pages to

576

Pages count

8

URL

https://acta.mendelu.cz/65/2/0569/

Full text in the Digital Library

http://hdl.handle.net/11012/68383

BibTex

@article{BUT136665,
  author="Jan {Vrubel} and Jaromír {Říha}",
  title="Discussion on the Safety Factors of Slopes Recommended for Small Dams",
  journal="Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis",
  year="2017",
  volume="Volume 65",
  number="2/2017",
  pages="569--576",
  doi="10.11118/actaun201765020569",
  issn="1211-8516",
  url="https://acta.mendelu.cz/65/2/0569/"
}