1 Elements of A Dam

SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS
OF EMBANKMENTS AND
DAMS
Florante D. Poso, Jr., MCE, PhD

1. Elements of Dam Engineering
◦ Introduction
◦ Classification of Dams
◦ Environmental, Social, Economic and
Political aspect in dam investigation
◦ Location criteria of a dam
◦ Dam Site investigation
◦ Stages in Project Planning &
Implementation
2. Embankment or Earth Dams
◦ Types of Embankment or Earth Dams
◦ Key Elements
◦ Causes of Failure
◦ Design Criteria for Earth Dams
◦ Selecting the Preliminary Section
◦ Seepage Analysis
3. Slope Stability Analysis
◦ Actual slope stability failures (Pictures
from previous events)
◦ Stability of side slopes
◦ Method of Slices
◦ Location of the center of the Critical
Circle
◦ Calculation of the Factor of Safety
4 Slope Stability Analysis by Numerical
Modeling
◦ (Note: The Slope/W software is for educational
purposes only)
◦ Introduction to Numerical Modeling
◦ Introduction to the SLOPE/W software
◦ Slope Stability Modeling
◦ Procedures in Modeling
◦ Key-In Parameters using Mohr Columb Analysis
◦ Results generation and presentation
5. Use of the SLOPE/W software on
◦ Excavation slopes
◦ Dam Slope stability
◦ Embankment slope stability
◦ Other applications
1.1 Introduction
Hydraulic Structures are engineering

constructions designed and mechanically fit
for managing and utilizing water resources to
the best advantage of the human being and
environment.
Dam is a barrier across flowing water that
obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often
creating a Reservoir.
 Reservoiris an artificial lake
created by flooding land
behind a dam.
Dams differ from all other
major hydraulic structures :
 Every dam, large or small, is quite
unique;
 Dams do not have a structural
lifespan; they may, however, have a
notional life for accounting purposes,
or a functional lifespan dictated by
reservoir sedimentation
 Dam engineering draws together a
range of disciplines
 Dam is a solid barrier constructed at a suit
location across a river valley to store
flowing water.
 Storage of water is utilized for following
objectives:
◦ Hydropower
◦ Irrigation
◦ Water for domestic consumption
◦ Drought and flood control
◦ For navigational facilities
◦ Other additional utilization is to develop
fisheries
Dams
Embankment Dams Concrete Dams
Dams with facing Dams with Arch Dam

Core
Concrete facing Silt or clay core Gravity Dam
Asphaltic Asphaltic concrete Buttress Dam

Concrete facing
Upstream Crest Down stream
Spillway
MWL
Max. level (inside dam)
NWL
Normal
water level
Free board
Heel
Toe
Embankment Dams
Embankment Dams
- These can be defined as dams constructed of
natural materials excavated or obtained from the
vicinity of the dam site.
1. Earth-fill or earthen embankments

- These may be classified as dams use compacted
soil for constructing the bulk of the dam volume.
- Constructed primarily of selected engineering
soils compacted uniformly and intensively in the
relatively thin layers and at controlled moisture
content
Earth Dams
http://www.aquatan.com/earth-dams
Earth Dams
http://www.aquatan.com/earth-dams
Ambuklao Dam, Benguet
San Roque Dam, Pangasinan
Magat Dam, Isabela
Embankment dams are advantageous in the following major
aspects:
1. These are suitable for river valleys of any type: steep
gorges or wide valleys
2. Can adopt to a broad range of foundation conditions,
ranging from good rock to even permeable soil type of
foundation
3. Uses naturally available materials
4. Relatively less costly
Amongst the disadvantages, it may be said that they have

greater susceptibility to damage than concrete dams due to
the possibility of getting washed away during an over
tapping of the spillway which may occur if there is a flash
flood in the river and the gates of the spillway which may
occur if there is a flash flood in the river and the gates of
the spillway are not operated in time or the spillway itself is
of inadequate capacity.
 The dam will not overturn provided the
resultant force falls within the base.
 to prevent tension at the upstream face
and excessive compression at the
downstream face, the dam cross section
is usually designed so that the resultant
falls within the middle third at all
elevations of the cross section
 good impervious foundations are
essential
 it has mass that lends an atmosphere of
permanence, stability, and safety
Environmental, Social, Economical and Political
investigation
• Socio-political considerations may range from population
displacement, with consequent economic impacts, to the
preservation of cultural or heritage sites;
• Five core values: Equity, Sustainability, Efficiency,
Participatory decision-making, accountability
• A ‘rights and risk’ approach in negotiating development
options
• Seven strategy priorities for water resource development
•Gain Public acceptance
•Assess option
•Address existing dams
•Sustain rivers and livelihoods
•Recognize entitlements and share
benefits
•Ensure compliance
Location criteria for dam
While selecting a site for a dam the following points should be
taken into consideration
 The dam should be as near as possible to the area to be

served, hence conveyance cost and water losses will be
minimized.
 Foundation area should be impervious and should be
able to support the weight of the dam.
 The topography of the dam and reservoir sites should
permit maximum storage of water at minimum cost.
 Materials of construction should be available in
sufficient quantity and good quality at a reasonable
distance.
 The value of property and land which will be
submerged by the reservoir has to be as small as
possible
 The cost of relocating roads, buildings etc. should
be as small as possible
 The cost of stream diversion and dewatering the

site should be as small as possible
 Transportation facilities and accessibility of the
site
 Availability of suitable sites for construction
equipment and camps
Dam site investigation
1. General planning and preparation of location maps:
before undertaking actual investigation it is necessary to
prepare location maps indicating likely dam and spillway site,
proposed relocation of approach roads, quarry sites for
construction material, stream gauging stations, proposed
camp site, existing utilities like lines of communication,
transmission lines, rail/road communication, other important
features.
2. Hydrologic investigation: collection and analysis of

stream flow and precipitation records, assessment of
available yield, estimation of flood peaks, determination of
spillway capacity and Ground water studies.
3. Topographic survey:
Detailed survey for the dam site covering sufficient

area on the u/s and d/s as well as above the likely
height of the dam on both the banks,
•Detailed survey for areas proposed for

constructing spillway, diversion tunnels, outlets,
power houses etc
•Preparation of detailed maps to various scales

based on the data collected
4. Surface geologic investigation: identification of boundary
and nature of deposits and overburden; the characteristic,
structure, strike of rock beds; Shape and magnitude of folds
and fault zones.
5. Subsurface or foundation exploration: sinking open pits,

drilling holes, driving shafts and drifts, Geophysical
prospecting using latest techniques.
6. Seismic surveys.
7. Construction material survey:
location and estimate of quantities of available construction
material, estimates need to be supported by laboratory tests
to determine suitability of various materials for construction
of dam and other structures.
1.11 Stages in Project Planning and Implementation

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SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS

Florante D. Poso, Jr., MCE, PhD

Hydraulic Structures are engineering

Embankment Dams Concrete Dams

Dams with facing Dams with Arch Dam

Concrete facing Silt or clay core Gravity Dam

Asphaltic Asphaltic concrete Buttress Dam

1. Earth-fill or earthen embankments

Amongst the disadvantages, it may be said that they have

 The dam should be as near as possible to the area to be

 The cost of stream diversion and dewatering the

2. Hydrologic investigation: collection and analysis of

Detailed survey for the dam site covering sufficient

•Detailed survey for areas proposed for

•Preparation of detailed maps to various scales

5. Subsurface or foundation exploration: sinking open pits,

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