Parametric study using FEM for the stability of the RCC Tannur dam

Parametric study was carried out in this paper using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to study the effects of variations of the two parameters, i.e., variations in batter slope and foundation properties under static and dynamic loading conditions on the distribution of the peak stresses within the dam and foundation soils. The response spectra for the operating basis earthquake (OBE) and the maximum credible earthquake (MCE) were used in the dynamic analysis. It is shown that the distribution of peak stresses across base of dam and the extent of tensile zone on the foundation soils at the foundation level vary with the variations in the batter slope. Generally, as the batter slope increases the extent of the tensile zone at the foundation level decreases but not necessarily the maximum tensile stresses. However, an optimum batter slope could be achieved based on the results of this parametric study. It should be noted that the greatest tension is developed in the rock adjacent to the toe of the batter. For the foundation mechanical properties, it has been shown that the assessment of accurate soil mechanical properties has a great effect on the computed design stresses from finite element analysis. However, the greatest effect of the foundation properties was on the stresses at the base of dam while it has a negligible effect within the dam body.