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Jigjiga University: Dep:-Hydraulic Engineering
Jigjiga University: Dep:-Hydraulic Engineering
13/12/12
JIGJIGA UNIVERSITY
DEP:- HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
SUB:- SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR PAPER
TITLE:- SEEPAGE AND SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSI OF DEGAHMADAW EARTH DAM
IDNO:- 0339/12
Contents
1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................3
2. LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................................................4
2.1 General Earth Fills Dam Embankment dams.....................................................................................4
2.1.1 Embankment Dam Failure..............................................................................................................4
2.1.2 Loading Conditions for Embankment Dams...................................................................................5
2.2 Seepage Analysis...................................................................................................................................6
2.2.1 Seepage Analysis of Embankment Dam.........................................................................................6
2.3.2 Purpose of Seepage in Earthen Dam...............................................................................................7
2.3.3. Mohr Coulomb Model...................................................................................................................7
2.3 Slope Stability Analysis.........................................................................................................................8
2.3.1 Limit Equilibrium Methods for Stability Analysis..........................................................................8
2.3.2 Finite Element Method (FEM)........................................................................................................8
2.3.3 Review of Embankment Dam.........................................................................................................9
2.3.4 Plaxis Finite Element Program.......................................................................................................9
3. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................10
3.1 General Background of the Study Area...........................................................................................10
3.1.1 Location........................................................................................................................................10
3.1.2 Climate.........................................................................................................................................10
3.1.3 Geology........................................................................................................................................10
3.2 Methodology.......................................................................................................................................11
3.2.1 Materials/Tools and equipment required.......................................................................................11
3.2.2 Data Input Parameters Cohesion C [kPa];.....................................................................................11
3.2.3 Primary Data Collection...............................................................................................................12
3.2.4 Secondary Data.............................................................................................................................12
3.2.5 Modelling approach......................................................................................................................12
3.2.6 Model Selection and setup............................................................................................................13
4 Results and Discussions..........................................................................................................................14
5.REFERENCES. 16.
1 Introduction
In case of earthen dam holding reservoir water, the knowledge of water flow inside embankment is
extremely important to estimate the seepage loss inside the water storage dam. In the present study, the
quantity of water flowing through the pores of the soil and its influences on the shear strength is of great
concern in stability of slopes. To predict the stability of a dam at any stage, a stability analysis under
static load for steady-seepage and transient-state seepage has been performed.
(USACE, 2004) ensuring the stability of the dam against slope failure, seepage and stress deformation is
an essential component for the design. Besides stability, the dam also must be able to exhibit satisfactory
serviceability where the dam should be able to perform the intended function throughout the service life.
However, the safety and performance of embankment dams must be controlled during the construction,
during the first impoundment and during long-term operation
Degahmadaw embankment dam constructed by Somali region water bureau, to alleviate the food
shortage problems of the drought affected area of the Degahmadaw woreda and throughout using
irrigation project, to promote and encourage sustainable agricultural crop production. The dam was built
for irrigating 250 ha of command area. In order to have sustainable utilization of the dam it’s important to
assess the stability of dam against slope and seepage failure are essential components for the design of
earth fill dam in order to perform the intended 2 function throughout the service life.
Therefore, this study aims to assess the seepage & slope stability analysis of the Degahmadaw earth dam
using FEM based plaxis 2D software, to identify the existed water leakage problem and to give insights of
dam instability issues and ultimately to propose helpful reclamation measure.
This paper are taken into account the stability and seepage analysis of the embankment dam which is
analyzed using ANSYS 11.0 software and the results of analysis have been verified with (GEOSLOPE
2007) software. In other hand, some parameters such as flood conditions, permeability, slopes, soil
parameters, and load conditions are taken to study their effects on the seepage and slope stability.
Hydraulic Failures; Above 40% of embankment dam failures are hydraulic failures due to the reason
from the uncontrolled flow of water over and adjacent to the embankment lead to the erosive action of
water on the embankment slopes. Embankment dam are not normally designed to be overtopped and
therefore are particularly susceptible to erosion.
Seepage Failures; More than 30% of embankment dam failures are due to seepage. Seepage always
occurs in earth dams. It does not harm for stability if it is with in the design limits or controlled in
velocity and quantity. Seepage occurs through the body of earthen embankment and its foundation.
Structural Failures; About 25% to 30% of failure is attributed to structural failure, which is mainly due
to shear failure causing slide along the slopes. Structural failures involve the separation (rupture) of the
embankment materials and/or its foundation.
Sudden Drawdown; When the water level at a dam drops, the stabilizing force due to the weight of the
water is removed. If the dam material has a low permeability and the water level drops quickly, then
excess pore pressures will be slow to dissipate that is causes reduced stability in the slope.
Flood Loading; This case applies when the reservoir stage rises above normal storage behind the dam.
This load case can include the steady seepage condition when pore water pressures from seepage fully
develop and pore-water pressures due to shear dissipates.
One of the most important problems in designing the levee section is to control seepage of water.
Seepage analysis at ANSYS software has been done based on thermal methods, it made possible due to
the existence of the analogy between the equations of seepage flow and the equations of the heat
diffusion. Mass and continuity equation seepage model are as below
∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂p
∂x
Kx [ +
∂x ∂y
Ky] [ +
∂y ∂z
Kz
∂z ] [
+q=μ ₛ
∂x ]
…………………………………………………..
……………..(5)
P = Fluid head. :
μ ₛ = Reservoir capacity.
Thermal-steady continuity condition, at ANSYS software is as below
∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂ ∂T ∂T
:
∂x [
Kx +
∂x ∂y ] [
Ky +
∂y ∂z
Kz
∂z] [
+ ρQ= ρc
∂t ]
………………………………….…..……….
(6)
In which: T: is the temperature, 𝝆 is the mass density, c: is the specific thermal coefficient,
and :Kx, Ky, Kz is thermal conductivity. Thermal index at different x,y,z are density at thermal resource.
In this comparison, 𝝆 is substitute with T at Thermal equation, μ ₛ is substitute to 𝝆c & q is similar with Q
To estimate the amount of seepage flow that may pass through an embankment or foundation.
To obtain the distribution of pore water pressure.
To ensure that the seepage line does not intersect the d/s face because, it causes the softening or
sloughing of the d/s slope.
Nowadays, various numerical analysis using computer programs are widely used to model a variety of
seepage flow conditions in embankment dams and groundwater movement. various software used in the
analysis of embankment dams like PLAXIS, SEEP/W, ANSYS, PDEase2D, SVFLUX & etc. (PS ,M.A,&
Balan, T.A, 2014
3.1.2 Climate
Data based observation shows that the total annual rainfall ranges between 372.1 to 650.2 mm and the
mean total annual rainfall is 616.5 mm (23 years data). The main rainy season (GU’) that starts in early
march, extends up to mid of June that accounts for 60% of the total annual rainfall and Hagaa rainy
season that starts in early September, extends up to end of November that accounts for 40% of the total
annual rainfall. The monthly mean maximum temperature ranges between 26.0°c in July and 37.9°c in
Feb. The monthly mean minimum temperature ranges between 3.5°c December and 13.4°c in April. The
mean annual maximum and minimum temperature is 29.7°c and 34.3°c respectively (SEIFU, 2010).
3.1.3 Geology
According (Coppock, 1994) the geology of the whole system is basement complex and soils developed on
Precambrian basement complex. Rock formations bulk of Precambrian rock of Eastern Ethiopia is
separated by repeatedly reactivated deformational zone into two distinct terrains that contrasting logical
formation. Geologically, the area comprises two logic units these are basement rock and quaternary
deposition. The basement rocks covered around the project area includes gneiss, feldspathic gneiss,
biotitic gneiss, granodiorite, amphibolite and quartzite. The dominant rock around the project area is
gneiss and feldspathic gneiss.
Seminar paper 10 | P a g e
3.2 Methodology
For any Seminar paper, identifying clear and efficient methodology is essential for the effectiveness of
the study not only from time budget point of view, but also from the quality of the paper result. The
methodology includes data collection from different institutions such as Ministry of water resources.
After collecting the necessary data for the paper, filling of missed data and checking the consistency of
the data have been made. The methodology of this study has aim to assess seepage analysis and slope
stability regarding to performance of Degahmadaw earth fill dam by using the PLAXIS 2D Software.
Friction Angle; Angle of internal friction for a given soil is the angle of the shear stress and normal
effective stresses plot at which shear failure occurs. Angle of internal friction, ϕ, is determined in the
laboratory by the direct shear tests. The angle of friction of a rock mass can be also found from the rock
mass rating formula expressed as follows; ϕ = 0.5*RMR + 5…………………………………..…3.1
(where, RMR is rock mass rating)
Poisson Ratio [ν]; the ratio of lateral or transverse strain to the longitudinal strain
−Lateral strain
υ= …………………………………………………………………………….3.2
Axial strain
Young's Modulus (E, kPa); PLAXIS uses the young’s modulus as the basic stiffness modulus in the
elastic and the Mohr Coulomb model. Laboratory tests that used to estimate the soil modulus are the
triaxial unconsolidated undrained compression or triaxial consolidated undrained compression tests. The
most common field tests include standard penetration test (SPT), the plate load test, cone penetration test
σ
and the pressure meter test. E= ……………..…………………………………………….. 3.3
ε
Where E is Young’s Modulus, is the stress and ԑ is the strain
Dilatancy (Ψ); Dilatancy is the volume change observed in granular materials when they are subjected to
shear deformations (VERRUIT, 2012) .For non-cohesive soils (sand and gravel) with the angle of internal
friction ϕ > 30° & the value of dilatancy angle is estimated as; ψ = φ – 30………………………….3.4
Seminar paper 11 | P a g e
The dilation angle is found from the above empirical questions or from the plot of volumetric strain
versus axial strain. Permeability; Plaxis- 2D Software distinguishes between a horizontal permeability
(Kx) and a vertical permeability (Ky) because in some types of soil like peat, there can be a significant
Q
difference between horizontal and vertical permeability. K= ………………………………..……
Ai
3.5 Where: Q is the volume of water flow through the soil per unit time, A is the cross-sectional area of
the soil, k is coefficient of permeability (m/s) and i is the hydraulic gradient.
Unit Weight γ; Unit weight is determined in the laboratory by measuring the weight and volume of a soil
sample obtained from the field. Measuring unit weight of soil directly in the field might be done by sand
cone test.
Arc-GIS; Geographic Information System “GIS” is a computer system for capturing, managing,
integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data which is spatially referenced to the Earth. For
this research ARC GIS is used describe and delineate the study area.
AutoCAD; is a commercial software application for 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and
drafting-available since 1982. AutoCAD is one such program and it main claim to fame is that it is
relatively easy to use, it is very comprehensive in its ability to create 2D and some 3D drawings, and it is
very popular.
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3.2.6 Model Selection and setup
Nowadays numerous finite element method-based softwares are implemented to evaluate performance of
embankment dams, natural engineering slopes, groundwater flow. In order to achieve the objectives of
this study, finite element method based on Plaxis-2D software will be employed. This model is selected
up on its easiness of its application, ability to solve complicated geometries, loadings, and material
properties when compared with other applications
Seminar paper 13 | P a g e
4 Results and Discussions
A detailed slope stability analysis and assessment of the original Degehmadaw Earth Embankment Dam
failure in Somali region was attempted in this paper. A 59 m long, 8 m high zone earth filled embankment
was being constructed from 2017 to 2018 from a Somali Regional Water Authority to regulate flows in
the River of dakhato in Degahmadaw. Its reservoir capacity was 15 million m3 and the watertight element
was Rolled Clay Core with an upstream extension of boot shaped and shoulders of compacted mudstone
with horizontal drainage layers of crushed limestone about 4 metres apart and a cut-off grout curtain
(Davey and Eccles, 1983). However, at the beginning of June 2018, a 40 m length of the upstream
shoulder of the embankment dam slipped some 4 m and failed. At the time of the failure, embankment
construction was virtually complete with the dam approaching its maximum height of 8m. The failure
surface passed through the boot shaped rolled clay core and a relatively thin layer of surface clay in the
foundation of the dam. Vol. 18 [2013], Bund. Z 6055 By using and applying advanced geotechnical
engineering analysis tools and modelling techniques the Degahmadaw Earth Embankment Dam, which is
considered a particular geotechnical structure, was analyzed in this paper. In this detailed slope stability
analyses, the total and effective stress state soil properties / parameters were used, and the most critical
slip circle centre according to Fellenius - Jumikis method was initially determined. Subsequently, the
Degahmadaw Earth Embankment Dam and its foundation was analysed and examined against failure by
slope instability. Considerations of loading conditions which may result to instability for all likely
combinations of reservoir and tailwater levels, seepage conditions, both after and during construction
were made, and hence three construction and / or loading conditions were examined in particular:
In this context, the slope stability at the three above mentioned discrete loading cases of the Degahmadaw
Earth Embankment Dam was analyzed and presented, and certain valuable conclusions concerning the
overall stability conditions of the Earth Embankment Dam during its original construction were deduced
in this seminar paper. In addition, for comparison reasons, a Slope Stability Analysis of the Degahmadaw
Earth Embankment Dam during loading case (a) using Taylor’s curves was performed. Furthermore, the
Shear Strength Reduction (S.S.R.) Analysis Method, based on the Finite Element Analysis technique
(F.E.A.), was executed, for purposes of verification of the Global Slope Stability Analysis of the whole
Degahmadaw Earth Embankment Dam for the Loading case (a), i.e. right after construction condition of
the Dam but prior to its filling with water, which proved that the results between the Shear Strength
Seminar paper 14 | P a g e
Reduction (S.S.R.) Analysis Method and the Limit Equilibrium Analysis Method (LEM) based on the
method of slices are comparable and similar. From these detailed slope stability analysis results, the
reasons as to why the Degahmadaw Earth Embankment Dam failed during its original construction
became obvious. According to the detailed slope stability analysis results, the following conclusions can
be deduced when considering the three examined construction and / or loading conditions
The slope stability analysis is performed by applying the limit equilibrium analysis (LEA) method in
order to determine the factor of safety (FoS) only for the downstream embankment slope (using
SLOPE/W software, GeoStudio 2007). The FoS values are obtained only for the sliding slope stability
considering the downstream slope
After Revetment Design the conditions are satisfied for the soil samples at high flood level and rapid
drawdown conditions. For all cases, the safety factors are above the recommended value. These values
have ensured the shear strength of soil along with the protection of river embankment. The soil having
better safety factors are assumed to be more protective from erosion. After the design, the number of
layers at rapid drawdown has been found to be greater in quantity than high flood level condition. But in
practice, rarely rapid drawdown condition is considered, so the number of layers used is minimum.
Seminar paper 15 | P a g e
5.REFERENCES.
1Anastasiadis, A., Kambouris, A., Pavlidis I., (2006), "Rapid visual pre-earthquake inspection of concrete
dams", 15th CONCRETE Congress, Oct. 25 to 27, 2006 Alexandroupolis, Greece, Pp. 56-65, Volume II.
2. Banyard J K, Coxon R E and Johnston T A (1992). Carsington reservoir - reconstruction of the dam.
Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers, Civil Engineering, 92(3), 106-115.
3. Barnes, G. E., (2010), Soil mechanics: principles and practice (3rd ed.), Basingstoke: Palgrave
Macmillan.
4. Bathe, K-J., (1982), "Finite Element Procedures in Engineering Analysis", PrenticeHall.
5. Bishop, A.W. (1955) The use of the slip circle in the stability analysis of slopes, Geotechnique,5 (1), 7–
6. Bowles, J.E., (1997). Foundation Analysis and Design. 5th Edn., McGraw-Hill, New York.
7. British Standard 6031 (1981) Code of Practice for Earthworks, British Standards Institution, London.
8. Building Research Establishment (1990) An Engineering Guide to the Safety of Embankment Dams in
the United Kingdom, , .
9 Abramson, Lee W., Lee, Thomas S., Sharma, Sunhill, Boyce and Glenn M. (2002), “Slope Stability and
Stabilization Methods”, 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New Yor .
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induced. (MSc. Thesis). Delft University of technology.
10 Aryal, K. P. (2006). Slope Stability Evaluations by Limit Equilibrium and Finite Element Methods.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
11.Asawa, G. L. (2008). Irrigation and water resources engineering. New Delhi: New Age International
(P) Ltd
12Babar, I. A. (2014). Finite Element Analysis of Seepage through an Earthen Dam by Using Geo-Slope
(Seep/W) Software. International Journal of Research (Ijr) Vol-1, Issue-8, September 2014, 16.
13. Casagrande, A. (1937). "Seepage through dams," J.N. Engl. Waterworks Assoc. Ll(2).
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Boston Society of Civil Engineers, Boston, MA, pp. 295-336.
15. Chalmers R W, Vaughan P R and Coats D J (1993). Reconstructed Carsington dam: design and
performance. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers, Water Vol. 18 [2013
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British dams. Geotechnique, 46(4), 621-640.
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19. Environment Agency, (2011). Evidence Report – Lessons from historical dam incidents. Horizon
House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH. ISBN: 978-1-84911-232- 1.
20. Fellenius, W. 1936. “Calculation of the Stability of Earth Dams,” Transactions, 2nd International
Congress on Large Darns, International Commission on Large Dams, Washington, DC, pp 445-459.
21. Gibson, R.E. and Morgenstern, N.R. (1962) A note on the stability of cuttings in normally
consolidated clays, Geotechnique, 12 (3), 212–16.
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