The Influence of Rockfill Material's Particle Breakage on Long-Term Time-Dependent Settlement of Embankment dams

Abstract

The current research was implemented to monitor and rehabilitate the structural health of Masjed-E-Soleyman, M.E.S., dam with 177 m height, one of the highest Iranian rockfill dams. This dam suffers from extensive and unpredictable settlements and related cracks. In order to investigate the nonhomogeneous (Conglomerate) rockfill's brittle behavior in Before-After and During the triaxial tests, a series of laboratory tests in conventional stress paths were carried out using a large-scale triaxial apparatus. A numerical time-dependent model was introduced inside the laboratory tests to find a relationship between particle breakage and the time-dependent settlement of the embankment dam. The core of this paper aimed to investigate the particle breakage of Conglomerate material in the M.E.S. dam and to modify the nonhomogeneous relative particle breakage index, by establishing a relationship between relative particle breakage index for this material and the plastic work. The conclusions of this research were categorized into three significant steps. The Breakage Index (Before-After tests) was calculated in the first step. Secondly, a relationship between Breakage Index and plastic work (During tests) was introduced. Finally, a predictable pattern of dam's crest settlement was presented using numerical Viscoelastic Burgers model and its calibration with accurate monitoring data of the M.E.S. dam.