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Historically, seepage failure has always been the primary cause of failures and accidents of earth dams after overtopping. However, research on the reliability of earth dams against seepage failure remains scarce. Meanwhile, the influence of the uncertainty of the soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) on the reliability of dams against seepage failure is still unclear. In this study, the van Genuchten–Mualem model is used to describe SWCC, and its uncertainty is characterized by discretizing SWCC fitting parameters a and n into cross-correlation lognormal random fields. Based on the random finite element method, this paper systematically studies the influence of the heterogeneity, autocorrelation, and cross-correlation of hydraulic parameters Ks, a, and n on the reliability of a dam against seepage failure. Sensitivity analysis indicates that Ks and autocorrelation distance crucially affect the reliability of the dam against seepage failure. Additionally, this paper also emphasizes and proves that considering the correlation between the hydraulic conductivity field and the critical hydraulic gradient field has a significant impact on evaluating the reliability of earth dams against seepage failure. However, this subtle but important potential characteristic has not been paid attention to in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete-face rockfill dams have gradually become the preferred dam type in the engineering community. This study presents a hydropower station in China as a case study to introduce a new type of embedded concrete-face rockfill dam. The static and dynamic stress–strain characteristics of the proposed and conventional concrete-face rockfill dams were compared, and the optimal height of the embedded concrete body at the hydropower station was determined. The results indicate that, under static conditions, the embedded concrete body could reduce deformation upstream and downstream of the rockfill body, eliminate tensile stress along the concrete-face slab slope, reduce concrete-face slab deflection, and increase the maximum deflection area to 0.47 times the dam height. The inhibitory effect of the embedded concrete body on the stress and strain of the dam body became more evident as the size of the embedded body increased. Although the embedded concrete body did not enhance the dynamic and superposed static–dynamic stress states of the embedded concrete body and rockfill, the stress and strain increase in the dynamic state were within a controllable range. Through a sensitivity analysis and considering the terrain conditions and engineering cost of the hydropower station, the height of the embedded concrete body is recommended to be 0.4 times the dam height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal instability is a phenomenon of fine particle redistribution in granular materials under the seepage action and consequent change in the soil's internal structure and hydraulic and mechanical properties. It is one of the primary causes of failures of sand-gravel foundations and embankment dams. The criteria establishment is considered the key to solving the erosion problems, so the existing internal stability criteria need a review and classification to study the recent development trends in soil seepage and erosion. Therefore, this paper aims at reviewing the internal stability factors of gap-graded soil with a focus on the internal erosion mechanism and internal stability evaluation based on geometric and hydraulic criteria. Firstly, the paper compared the effect of several commonly used geometric criteria for gap-graded soil evaluation, such as particle size, fine content, void ratio, and fractal dimension. Furthermore, it provided a hydraulic criteria overview and analyzed the effects of the hydraulic gradient, hydraulic shear stress, confining pressure, and pore velocity on internal erosion. The geometric–hydraulic coupling methods were introduced, with a detailed elaboration of the erosion resistance index method based on accumulated dissipated energy. The capabilities and limitations of these criteria were discussed throughout the paper. It was found that combined Kezdi's criterion and Kenney and Lau's criterion is more reliable to evaluate internal stability of soil. The gap-graded soil with fine particle content higher than 35% is not necessarily internally stable. Finally, the energy-based method (erosion resistance index method) can effectively reproduce the total amount of erosion mass and the final spatial distribution of fine particles and identifies erosion. The review's outcome can be used as a basis to evaluate the internal erosion risk for gap-graded soils. The evaluation methods discussed here can help identify the zones of relatively high erosion potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many practical problems in the rapid development of the concrete face rockfill dam, which mainly focus on a large number of cracks and extrusion breakages in the face slab caused by temperature-induced stress, shrinkage stress, deformation of dam and other reasons, which eventually lead to leakage, threatening the safety of the dam. To solve this problem, the three-dimensional finite element analysis method is combined with the block equivalent continuum method to calculate the three-dimensional seepage field of the dam area, in order to study the seepage characteristics of numerous and unevenly distributed cracks in the concrete face rockfill dam; then, the corresponding head distribution and seepage characteristics, including the phreatic line, the hydraulic gradient and the seepage discharge, were obtained. The findings of this paper validate the accuracy and reliability of the block equivalent continuum method. It not only meets the requirements of simulation accuracy, but also can obtain the characteristics of the local seepage field near the crack. At the same time, it greatly simplifies the finite element model and significantly improves the efficiency of seepage calculation. This method provides a reference for the seepage analysis of similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete face rockfill dams are widely used in hydropower engineering because of their many advantages. As important structures, if the performance of the concrete face slab and the impervious curtain is weakened, leakages and even serious dam failures can occur. Based on an equivalent quasi-continuum medium model, three-dimensional finite-element numerical simulations of the seepage behaviour of Miaojiaba dam, China, are performed. The seepage field and seepage characteristics, including the phreatic line, maximum hydraulic gradient and seepage discharge, are analysed quantitatively and systematically under various abnormal conditions. The results show that cracks in different areas of the face slab and different degrees of degradation in the impervious curtain influence the seepage field in different ways, with cracks in the lower face slab being the most serious. Ensuring that the face slab and impervious curtain are working as intended is very important for the integrity of the dam. Therefore, the design and construction quality of impervious structures should be strictly controlled. Under abnormal conditions, seepage control should be realised to ensure the safety and stability of concrete face rockfill dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a set of stability charts for the stability assessment of rock slopes that satisfy the Hoek–Brown (HB) criterion under various seismic loading conditions. The nonlinear Hoek–Brown strength reduction technique is used to conduct pseudostatic stability analysis of rock slopes subjected to horizontal seismic excitation. Based on an extensive parametric study, first, a set of stability charts with a slope angle of β = 45° under static and pseudostatic conditions are proposed by using ABAQUS 6.10 software. Second, the slope angle weighting factor (fβ) and the seismic weighting factor (fkh) are adopted to characterize the influence of slope angle (β) and horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient (kh) on the rock slope stability. Finally, the reliability of the proposed charts was validated by three typical examples and two case studies, and the results show that the values of the factor of safety (FOS) obtained from the proposed charts are consistent with the values from other methods. The proposed charts provide an efficient and convenient way to determine the FOS of rock slopes directly from the rock mass properties (γ and σci), the HB parameters (mi and GSI), the slope geometry (H and β), and the horizontal seismic coefficients (kh). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dam construction is important for economic development. However, the safety risks posed by dangerous dams are unacceptable. The need for the consequence evaluation of dam breaks has been increasing to reduce all types of losses caused by dam breaks in downstream areas. However, research on this topic is relatively scarce, particularly in the field of social and environmental impact assessments. This study combined the analytic hierarchy process, variable fuzzy set, and an index system to overcome the limitations of traditional evaluation methods and the problem in which the obtained evaluation level cannot be located accurately. An integrated variable fuzzy evaluation model was proposed to evaluate the social and environmental impact of dam breaks. To explore and compare the presented method with other traditional methods, a case study of the Changlong Reservoir was conducted. The comparison results showed that the proposed method features accurate algorithms and a scientific evaluation process. It can convey the severity of social and environmental impact to a certain degree by using the eigenvector of level H, which can improve the accuracy of assessment results. Meanwhile, various factors in the object to be evaluated were comprehensively considered. Therefore, the proposed method can be applied to the social and environmental impact evaluation of dam breaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling effect of seepage and temperature fields in fractured rock mass is a hot topic in the area of water conservancy, nuclear waste disposal and geothermal resources development. A coupling mathematical model of the seepage, flow temperature and rock mass temperature fields in the fracture network of rock mass is established based on the seepage and temperature interaction. A calculation program is developed and applied to calculate the seepage and temperature fields of the dam foundation of a water conservancy project. The interaction mechanism of the seepage, flow temperature and rock mass temperature fields is analyzed in this paper. Results show that the seepage field largely influences the temperature field, which can provide several suggestions for the deep underground disposal of nuclear waste, geothermal resources development and fractured rock mass in dam foundations. Considering the coupling effect of the seepage, flow temperature and rock mass temperature fields by the fracture network method is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a global scale, the demand for mineral products has increased substantially with economic development. Consequently, the mining of mineral resources results in the production and accumulation of a large number of tailings, causing many problems with respect to mining, the environment, and the economy. In the mining process, tailings must be reasonably treated to prevent them from entering the water cycle through rivers. The storage of tailings under water can effectively hinder the chemical reactions that they undergo. Therefore, it is a critical practice to store these substances in ponds or impoundments behind dams. However, tailings dams frequently fail, resulting in the discharge of significant quantities of tailings into the natural environment, thereby causing grievous casualties and serious economic losses. This paper discusses reasons including seepage, foundation failure, overtopping, and earthquake for tailings dam failures and explores failure mechanisms by referring to the available literature. This research has determined that the failure of tailings dams is closely related to the state of the country's economy. Most of the tailings dam breakages in developed countries occurred decades ago. In recent years, the proportion of tailings dam failures in developing countries has been relatively high. Considering the serious damages caused by tailings dam breakage, it is important to understand the main reasons and mechanisms for their failure. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference for the design and construction to the building of the tailing dams and to reduce the occurrences of their failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper combined with the adaptive principle to improve the genetic algorithms (GA) and applied it to optimal design of the shape of the concrete face rock-fill dam (CFRD). Based on the improved GA, a mathematical model was established for the design optimization of CFRD. CFRD utilizes dam cost as objective function and dam slope and geometries of the dam material partition as design variables. Dam stability, stress, displacement, and stress level are used as the main condition constraints. The calculation procedures were prepared, and the GA was used to optimize the design of Jishixia CFRD. Results show that the GA could solve the global optimal solution problem of complex optimization design, such as the high degree of nonlinearity and the recessiveness of constraint conditions, and using the GA to optimize the CFRD design can reduce the quantities of projects and engineering safety costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of dams are being built on deep sand and gravel foundations. In this paper, the stress-deformation behaviour of a concrete-face rockfill dam built on sand and gravel foundation is studied based on in situ monitoring results and finite-element analysis. The effects of a dam construction scheme on the behaviour of the dam and its impervious structures are discussed. The stress and deformation values that were computed using the finite-element analysis model are consistent with the measured data. The monitored data and numerical results indicate that maximum settlement occurred at the bottom of the dam and maximum compressive stress is distributed in the foundation. The concrete-face rockfill dam built on the sand and gravel foundation exhibited good performance. The staged construction scheme of the dam caused uneven deformation and stress concentration in the dam body but could improve the behaviour of the cut-off wall to a certain extent. Moreover, several factors that influence the behaviour of the cut-off wall are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of establishing a tailings dam is to safely store tailings to protect the natural environment from damage. Accidents at tailings dams are frequent, however, with serious consequences of not only threats to life and property but also the pollution of the environment. Many tailings dam accidents are caused by seepage failure. In this paper, the object of the case study is the Lixi tailings dam. Three- and two-dimensional finite element models are established. The seepage field of the project under different working conditions is simulated and the position of the phreatic line is obtained. The safety factors under different working conditions are obtained by combining the seepage field with the stable surface. Finally, the influence of different dry and upstream slope ratio on seepage and stability of tailings dam is obtained. The results show that the longer the length of the dry beach, the lower the phreatic line and the greater the safety factor. The higher the upstream slope ratio, the lower the phreatic line and the greater the safety factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the behaviour of a concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD) built on river gravel foundation on the basis of in-situ measurement records and numerical analysis. The monitoring records were obtained from a detailed deformation-monitoring system. A 3D finite element analysis was performed to assess long-term dam behaviour. The behaviour of the CFRD built on river gravel foundation was analysed comprehensively. A discussion of behaviour, especially with relevance to the behaviour of dams built on stiff-foundation, was included. The effect of the river gravel foundation was analysed, and the exact mechanisms were discussed. The relative contribution of various factors on the long-term behaviour of the CFRD was also studied. In-situ measurements were compared with numerical results to discuss the capability of the numerical model to predict the dam behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A quasi-distributed fiber optic monitoring system was constructed. • The rationality of centrifugal model test of faced rockfill dams was confirmed. • The additional tensile stress is easily generated at the bottom of the face slab due to the effect of water load. • The necessity of avoiding boundary effect in centrifugal model test was demonstrated. • The feasibility and accuracy of fiber Bragg grating sensing technology for deformation monitoring in centrifugal model tests of concrete faced rockfill dams was explored. The traditional method of tracking the deformation of centrifugal dam model involves burying marker points on the sidewalls, which is commonly used. However, the method is inaccurate in monitoring the deformation of the model since the constraining effect of boundary effect on the model. In this study, a quasi-distributed fiber optic monitoring system was constructed using fixed-point distributed fiber Bragg grating. Particle image velocimetry, earth pressure cell, and other electromagnetic sensors were combined to examine the rationality of the face rockfill dams centrifugal model tests. Through comparative analysis, the applicability and stability of the fixed-point distributed FBG technique in the centrifugal model test were demonstrated. It is also demonstrated that traditional monitoring methods will underestimate the deformation of face rockfill dams by 2.32 % ∼ 13.55 %. This study addresses the shortcomings of existing monitoring methods with excessive measurement errors and provides a more applicable monitoring tool for developing related experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]