Stability Analysis of an Earthen Embankment Dam with Internal Clay Core

Abstract

This study aims at evaluating the effect of the material properties of dam, saturation
conditions and seismic loads on the stability of earthen embankment dam with internal clay
core by using Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM). The cross-section of two dimensional
geometric model of the earthen embankment dam with internal clay core is incorporated in
GEO5, a tool for analyzing the LEM based slope stability problems. The factor of safety of
earthen embankment dam with internal clay core is calculated by using Bishop, Spencer,
Fellenius, Janbu and Morgenstern-Price methods. From the analysis, it is observed that the
property of clay used in the internal core of an earthen embankment dam is very important to
stabilize a slope. Internal clay core imparts greater safety to the dam slope at dry condition
than at saturated condition. If the clay of higher cohesion is used in internal core, it imparts
the stability of slope rather than compromising its stability. It is also depicted that the
application of seismic load at fully saturated condition is the most vulnerable condition for
the stability of earthen embankment dam with internal clay core.