Parametric Evaluation of the Static Stability Analysis of the Asphaltic Concrete Core Rockfill Dams

The present study examined the effect of the geometric parameters of the Rockfill dams on the 2D static analysis of slope stability. In this regard, several numerical models analyzed for eight heights, three slopes of upstream and downstream, three vertical and skewed core thicknesses and four different impounding time stages namely, End of Construction, Full Reservoir, Half Full Reservoir and Rapid Drawdown on a bedrock foundation. The Morgenstern-Price graphical-limit equilibrium method was selected to study the slopes stability. According to the obtained results for all the models and cases, asphaltic concrete core thickness and its inclination had no significant effect on the calculated safety factors of the slope stability. Maximum and minimum stability safety factors obtained for the Full Reservoir and Rapid Drawdown time stages, respectively. In addition, in terms of upstream and downstream stability safety factors for different types of impoundment, End of Construction and Half Full Reservoir time stages were rated the second and third, respectively. Based on the final results, stability safety factor of Half Full Reservoir must be considered to ensure adequate safety of the dam stability. For the Full Reservoir time stage, the upstream safety factor was bigger than the downstream one, whereas for Half Full Reservoir, the upstream safety factor was smaller than the downstream one in all heights and slopes.