Studying the Effect of Geometric Characteristics of Dam on Downstream Saturation in Earth Dam

Various factors affect stability and seepage rate in the embankment dams. These factors are geometrical characteristics of dam embankment and core, permeability coefficient of soil and height of water level in upstream. The above-mentioned factors are discussed using numerical, analytical and experimental methods, and their impacts are evaluated. In the present paper, using the numerical and analytical methods, the saturation condition of downstream curst of non-homogeneous earth dam is investigated. For this purpose, the earth dam embankment was modeled in Geo-Studio software and the effects of different factors including: width, dam core, permeability and water level in the reservoir on saturation rate of dam downstream crust were evaluated. The results of this study indicate that the width and the permeability coefficient ratio of core to curst, have a greatest impact on saturation of dam downstream. In total, 250 models were analyzed in different condition and finally a function was presented in order to investigate the effects of various parameters on saturation of downstream curst of earth dam.