Re-Assessment of an Earth fill Dam using Finite Element  Method and Limit Equilibrium Method (Case study of  Latamber Dam, Pakistan)

Afnan Ahmad; Shahid Ali; Mujahid Khan; Indra Sati Hamonangan Harahap; Muhammad  Sagheer Aslam

Authors

Afnan Ahmad Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
Shahid Ali Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, 25000, KPK, Pakistan
Mujahid Khan Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, 25000, KPK, Pakistan
Indra Sati Hamonangan Harahap Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia 2 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, 25000, KPK, Pakistan 3 National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, 25000, KP
Muhammad Sagheer Aslam National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, 25000, KPK, Pakistan

Keywords:

Earth-fill dam, finite element analysis, limit equilibrium method, seepage analysis, slope analysis, dynamic analysis, liquefaction

Abstract

Dams are massive as well as the expensive hydraulic structure which needs proper attention during designing and construction. Besides earthquakes, seepage and slope instability also cause serious damages which may lead to dam failure. Keeping in view the importance of dam construction and stability, there is a need to work out its stability, seepage, and earthquake analysis very accurately. This study assesses the stability of the existing earthfill Latamber dam located in the Karak region of Pakistan. Rigorous finite element analysis (FEM) tools have been utilized to carry out seepage analysis, and dynamic analysis of the Latamber dam while for the slope stability analysis, limit equilibrium method was adopted. The results indicate that the Latamber dam is secure against seepage and piping failure, slope (upstream and downstream) failure, and dynamic loading, observing no liquefaction.