Dynamics of Earth Dam Stability caused by Rapid Rising and Drawdown of Water Level

• Main Authors: Fathani, Teuku Faisal, Legono, Djoko
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Civil Geotechnical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Engineering
• Online Access: https://repository.ugm.ac.id/273771/1/Paper%20dan%20Sertifikat%2014.pdf; https://repository.ugm.ac.id/273771/
• Institution: Universitas Gadjah Mada

Failure in an earth dam mostly occurs due to extreme water level fluctuation in the upstream. This research is aiming at analyzing the effect of rapid rising and rapid drawdown of water level to the structural integrity of an earth dam. The earth dam is modeled physically in a laboratory experiment. The monitoring instruments used in the experiment are soil moisture sensors, deformation sensor with pressure range detection, dial gauges, and capacity level meter. Furthermore, dam stability analysis, deformation analysis, and seepage analysis are conducted with consideration to water level fluctuation, dam slope inclination, and type of the soil composing the dam body. The results from physical model experiment were compared to the results of stress-deformation analysis of plane strain idealization. The result shows a decrease in safety factor of downstream slope due to the rising of upstream water level, whereas almost every model variation experienced failure in the downstream during the experiment. The obtained safety factor varies depending upon the material composing the dam model. Rapid drawdown of water level increases the landslide risk, indicated by a significant decrease of safety factor of upstream slope. The safety factor in rapid drawdown is generally slightly higher than in rapid rising of upstream water level.