Non-linear analysis of stress and strain of concrete-faced rockfill dam for sequential impoundment process

Abstract

The rockfill is modeled as nonlinear elastic material, whose stress-dependent tangent modulus is related to the confining pressure. The parameters of constitutive relationship of stress and strain are determined by tri-dimensional compression test in laboratory. The model applied in this study adopts the technique of element birth and death to simulate the sequential impoundment process of concrete-faced rockfill dam with time. Nonlinear finite element method is used to simulate the prototype behavior of various components of the dam in sequential nonlinear analysis and some representative results are presented.