Static analysis of low Rcc Dams constructed on nonrock foundations

Roller compacted concrete (RCC) dams, have important advantages such as fast constructionand low cost with respect to conventional concrete dams. RCC dams are built faster with a 40~60%lower cost and can be constructed on non-rock foundations, that is, clay, silt, gravel, alluvium etc.Lower Chase Creek (USA), Cedar Falls (USA) and Dryden (USA) dams are some examples of RCCdams, constructed on nonrock foundations. When dams are constructed on nonrock foundations,common problems that must be considered in the design process are differential settlement, piping,seepage and erosion at the downstream toe. In order to maintain low cost and the stability of thestructure these design challenges must be addressed.In this study, the performance of RCC dams constructed on the non-rock foundations wasinvestigated. Linear elastic behavior of foundations with different strength was investigated under the staticloads. The analyses were carried out for three different dam cross sections so as to apply the load morelarge area and increase lenght of the leak. Dam heights were selected as 20, 35, 50 and 100 m. Thefoundation strength was computed in term of (Et/Eb) ratio of the dam elasticity modulus. Analyses wereobtained for 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 of the Et/Eb values. Downstream slopes were taken as (0.7y/1.0d),(0.75y/1.0d), (0.8y/1.0d). The dam and foundation domains were assumed as linear elastic and modeled withfinite element technique. Results were obtained at dam body and dam-foundation interface andequations belong to these were presented. Moreover, stability analyses were made for selected damcross sections.Key Words: Dam, RCC, Static Analyses, Dam Foundation