FAULT RUPTURE PROPAGATION THROUGH ZONED EMBANKMENT DAMS

This paper presents the results of numerical modeling of fault rupture propagation of reverse faults through a zoned embankment dam, at the end of construction. Nonlinear Finite Element Method is used to evaluate the effects of fault activity in dam foundation. The results have been verified with centrifuge physical simulations and the dependency of results on mesh density is studied. The effects of soil compaction are considered using tow typical materials for shell of the embankment which are representative of dense and loose soils. The effects of fault position are also studied in this paper. The results are presented in the form of maximum plastic strains localized in embankment and also surface displacement gradients, to evaluate rupture patterns formed in zoned embankment.