Static Parametric Stress-Strain Analysis for Asphaltic Concrete Core of Rockfill Dams

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the effect of variations in the asphaltic concrete core Rockfill dam geometric parameters on the core behavior at different upper, middle, and lower points under two-dimensional static stress-strain analysis. The mentioned analysis was performed using SIGMA/W software. In the modeling and analysis process, the geometry of a large number of dams constructed around the world was studied and many numerical models with variations in eight classes of height, three dams upstream/downstream slope modes, and three different asphaltic core positions and thicknesses on a rigid foundation were created and analyzed. In addition, for each of the above models, four dam operation stages including “End of Construction”, “Full Reservoir”, “Half-Full Reservoir”, and “Rapid Drawdown” were considered. The results show, in four different stages of construction and impounding and three different slope modes, the maximum stress as well as horizontal and vertical displacements at the upper, middle, and lower points of the core increase with increasing height. In all models, increasing upstream and downstream slopes results in an increase in the amount of vertical displacement for all construction and impounding stages at the upper, middle, and lower points of the core. In the middle and lower points of the core, with increasing height, the amount of deviatoric stress increases for all construction and impounding conditions. In addition, for all operation cases, the maximum strain increases in all points of the vertical and tilted cores as the core thickness increases. Additional results are presented in the next sections.