Effects of material properties on behavior of embankment dam clay cores in narrow valleys

In this study, stress-strain analyses of embankment dams with clay core in narrow valleys are evaluated by means of numerical modeling, considering the longitudinal section along an embankment dam centerline. Emphasis is placed on effects of cross valley differential settlements, and the end of construction core load-settlement behavior, particularly in vicinity of abutments. The effects of core material type (mixed clayey sand material versus pure clay), on stress-strain behavior are examined. As a case study the Masjed Soleyman clay core is analyzed considering different types of materials, and a range of core material deformation properties. A 70% reduction in depth of tensile zones near the core- abutment interface was achieved by inclusion of contact clay material at the core bottom. Comparison of analysis results and instrumentation data suggested a good agreement between results.