Analysis and monitoring of the behavior of a rock fill dam ten years after construction: a case study of the Iran-Madani Dam

• Published in: Geoenvironmental disasters 2024-10, Vol.11 (1), p.30-14, Article 30
• Main Authors: Farajniya, Rasoul, Poursorkhabi, Ramin Vafaei, Zarean, Ahmad, Dabiri, Rouzbeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Construction; Control equipment; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Dam construction; Dam safety; Dam stability; Data analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environment; Environmental Science and Engineering; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Geography; Hydrostatic pressure; Impounding; Instrumentation; Instruments; Intelligent Recognition; Mathematical analysis; Mechanisms; Monitoring; Monitoring and Prevention of Loess Disasters; Natural Hazards; Numerical analysis; Pore pressure; Pore water; Pore water pressure; Rock fill dam; Rockfill dams; Rocks; Sensitivity analysis; Settlement; Stability analysis; Stress; Water pressure
• ISSN: 2197-8670; 2197-8670
• DOI: 10.1186/s40677-024-00295-4

In this study we compared dam monitoring results with those of numerical analysis to propose a plan for the first reservoir impounding of the Iran-Madani Rock fill dam, ten years after the completion of its construction. The stability of the dam body has been assessed using numerical analysis and data obtained from sensors installed in the dam. The correctness and accuracy of the geotechnical parameters of the dam body materials were confirmed by comparing the results of numerical analysis and monitoring through back analysis. The linear correlation coefficients between the experimental data and the numerical results for settlement, pore water pressure, and total stress are 84%, 67%, and 99%, respectively. In addition, the agreement between the design assumptions with both the numerical analysis results and instrumentation data was examined. The arching ratio values obtained from instrumentation and numerical analysis in the core of the dam are 0.47 and 0.35, respectively, indicating the safety of the dam. Finally, a numerical sensitivity analysis was conducted to present a special impounding program for the dam, with a focus on controlling simultaneous changes in pore water pressure and effective stress in the clay core, ten years after the completion of the dam body construction.