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Title: EFFECTS OF COMPACTION ON EMBANKMENT RESISTANCE TO HEADCUT MIGRATION

Author
item Hanson, Gregory
item Robinson, Kerry
item Cook, Kevin

Submitted to: State Dam Safety Officials Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/16/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Embankment overtopping and dam safety are major concerns of engineers and the general public. As the population has grown and development has occurred downstream of reservoirs, the potential for loss of life or significant economic damage in the event of a structure failure has increased. Therefore research was conducted to investigate the effects of compactive effort and moisture content on erosion resistance of typical soil materials used for embankment construction. The research was conducted in a large outdoor flume. Soil was compacted in the flume. An overfall was shaped in the soil material, and migration of the overfall was monitored as flow was introduced over the soil material. Compaction and water content were observed to have a significant effect on rate of migration. Stress-strain properties of the soil material, measured prior to running the flume tests, were found to be indicators of the resistance of the soil material. These properties should provide a tool to quickly distinguish those dams where limited overtopping may be allowable.

Technical Abstract: Embankment overtopping and dam safety are major concerns of engineers and the general public. As the population has grown and development has occurred downstream of reservoirs, the potential for loss of life or significant economic damage in the event of a structure failure has increased. Therefore research was conducted to investigate the effects of compactive effort and moisture content on erosion resistance of typical soil materials used for embankment construction. The research was conducted in a large outdoor flume. Soil was compacted in the flume. An overfall was shaped in the soil material, and migration of the overfall was monitored as flow was introduced over the soil material. Compaction and water content were observed to have a significant effect on rate of migration. Compactive effort resulted in a 73-fold decrease in migration rate, and water content at high compactive effort resulted in a 36-fold decrease in migration rate. .The stress-strain modulus and failure energy per unit volume of the soil material, measured prior to running the flume tests, were found to be indicators of the resistance of the soil material. These properties should provide a tool to quickly distinguish those dams where limited overtopping may be allowable.