Quantitative Study on the Influence of Alluvium Foundation on the Behavior of Concrete Face Rockfill Dam

Abstract

An increasing number of concrete faces rockfill dams (CFRDs) are being built on deep alluvium foundations. Understanding the behavior of CFRDs that are built on alluvial foundations is critical to the performance assessment and design optimization of these dams. This paper aims to quantitatively study the influence of alluvial foundations on CFRD behavior and discusses the corresponding treatment measures. Four parameters are proposed to describe the distribution characteristics of alluvium foundations. The parameters are related to the mechanical properties of an alluvium foundation, which have practical physical meaning. A series of numerical calculations are performed on the behavior of CFRDs with different alluvium characterization parameters based on a case history. The influence of an alluvium foundation distribution on CFRD behavior is quantitatively analyzed according to the numerical calculations and measured data from case histories. Corresponding treatment measures or suggestions for the dam or foundation are discussed. The findings could offer reliable insights into CFRD behavior on alluvium foundations and provide an engineering analogy or reference for the planning, design, and construction of CFRDs.