• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2022

Ensuring the integrity of a country's infrastructure is necessary to protect surrounding communities in case of disaster. Embankment dam systems across the US are an essential component of infrastructure, referred to as lifeline structures. Embankment dams are crucial to the survival of life and if these structures were to fail, it is imperative that states be prepared. Southern California is particularly concerned with the stability of embankment dams due to the frequent seismic activity that occurs in the state. The purpose of this study was to create a numerical model of an existing embankment dam simulated under seismic loads using previously recorded data. The embankment dam that was studied in Los Angeles, California was outfitted with accelerometers provided by the California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program that have recorded strong motion data for decades and was processed by the Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data to be used in future engineering applications. The accelerometer data was then used to verify the numerical model that was created using finite element modeling software RS2. The results from this study showed Puddingstone Dam's simulated response was consistent with that experienced during previous earthquakes and therefore validated the predicted behavior from the numerical model. The study also identified areas of weakness and instability on the dam that posed the greatest risk for its failure. Following this study, the numerical model can now be used to predict the dam's response to future earthquakes, develop plans for its remediation, and for emergency response in case of disaster.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.862-870
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• 2010

This thesis has been researched on optimized design method for the total cross section of embankment considering the fact that the size of embankment cross section is directly related with economic efficiency when dam designing. In general, embankment cross section of fill dam is either determined by cohesion and angle of internal friction, a strength parameter of embankment materials or by permeability of embankment. Therefore the size of embankment cross section depending on strength parameter of embankment materials was determined by using MIDAS-GTS program through stress-seepage coupled analysis at the time of fill dam design. As a result, determination of embankment cross section was more affected by the size of central core and permeability rather than by slope stability by shear strength and it was revealed that in case of embankment height being over 20m, stability against infiltration and slope action could be secured only when embankment slope is at least over 1:2.5. In addition, it was also revealed that in case of making the size of central core exceeding specification standard, total cross section of embankment could be reduced considerably and at the time of embankment design, adequate size and appropriateness of embankment cross section could be determined with referring the table suggested by this study.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2010

This study was performed to develop the embankment protection method that can reduce demage by prevention of embankment loss and collapse from overflow due to heavy rain and flood. For overflow test, model dam was prepared and embankment behaviors were monitored with the established piezometer and strain meter during overflow. As a result of overflow test for model dam, in case of embankment without waterproof mat, the lower end of embankment was collapsed within 40 seconds after beginning of overflow. On the other hand, in case of embankment with waterproof mat, embankment collapse didn't occurred during overflow. Accordingly, establishment of waterproof mat for embankment showed that be absolutely effective for the embankment protection during overflow in reservoir. Also, it showed that the minimum establishment range of waterproof mat to prevent embankment collapse in reservoir is from maximum storage level to the lower end of embankment.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.637-651
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• 2022

The seismic design of embankment dams requires more comprehensive studies to understand the behaviour of dams. Deformations primarily control this behaviour occur during or after earthquake loading. Dam failures and incidents show that the impacts of deformations should be reviewed for existing and new embankment dams. Overtopping erosion failure can occur if crest deformations exceed the freeboard at the time of the deformations. Therefore, crest settlement is one of the most critical deformations. This study developed empirical formulas using Gene Expression Programming (GEP) based on 88 cases. In the analyses, dam height (H_d), alluvium thickness (H_a), the magnitude-acceleration-factor (MAF) values developed based on earthquake magnitude (Mw) and peak ground acceleration (PGA) within this study have been chosen as variables. Results show that GEP models developed in the paper are remarkably robust and accessible tools to predict earthquake-induced crest settlement of embankment dams and perform superior to the existing formulation. Also, dam engineering professionals can use them practically because the variables of prediction equations are easily accessible after the earthquake.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.397-406
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• 2010

Resistivity method is a practical and effective geophysical technique to detect leakage zones in embankment dams. Generally, resistivity survey conducted along the crest assumes that the embankment dam has a 2D structure. However, the 3D topography of the embankment distorts significantly resistivity data measured on anywhere of the dam. This study evaluates the influence from 3D effects created by specific dam geometry and effects of water level fluctuations through the 3D finite element modeling technique. Also, a comparison between different locations of survey line are carried out, and topographic correction technique is developed for the resistivity data obtained along the embankment dam. Furthermore, using synthetic resistivity data for an embankment dam model with leakage zone, detectability of leakage zones is estimated through 2.5D inversion.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.282-291
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• 1985

In order to investigate the settlement characteristics of fill dam with decomposed granite is used as a embankment material instead of conventional clay collected behavoir of Andong dam and analyzed. Andong dam is the use of decomposed granite in the embankment material, and various type of gauges were installed in dam to measure a pore pressure, interval vertical settlement, dam crest settlement, relative settlement, surface settlement and internal horizontal movement. The results were summerized as follows; 1. With the increase of embankment loading, the settlement of core zone during construction increased with linear and under the effective stress $7kg/cm^2$ vertical settlement ratio ranged between 0.1 and 0.8% approximately and showed smaller value than that of fill dam with clay were used as a embankment material. 2. Though embankment loading was increased with about over central part of embankment height, the settlement of core zone in the lower part of the embankment was influenced slightly. 3. Pore pressure responsed sensitively with the increase of coefficient of permeability in core zone and settlement increased with pore pressure were dispersed. 4. During construction relative settlement in the lower part of the embankment has the largest influence on magnitude of the relative density and after construction settlement showed larger value in the core zone which has the largest compression height. 5. Settlement distribution of dam crest showed larger value in the central part, maximum section of dam, but smaller value in near the abutment.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.59-68
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• 2010

Piping, a common form of internal embankment erosion, is caused by progressive movement of soil particles through an embankment. The phenomenon commonly occurs with precursory signs of development of fractures in dam structures, but also occurs without any noticeable signs in dams that showed satisfactory dam performance for several years, due to dissolution of soluble material in an embankment. While piping accounts for nearly 50% of the causes for dam failure, few studies have been made for systematic evaluation of the phenomenon. In this study, we attempted to monitor the changes in electrical resistivities of fill-dam material while a saddle dam is dismantled for the construction of emergency spillways of Daechung dam. Two artificial subhorizontal boreholes were drilled into the embankment structure to simulate piping along the two artificial flow channels. Monitoring of changes in electrical resistivity showed an increase in resistivity values during piping. Thus, the investigation of resistivity over time could be an effective method for piping prediction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.417-424
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• 2000

We applied SP monitoring and resistivity surveys using the pole-pole electrode array to seawater leakage problems in the Youngsan estuary dam and the Eoeun embankment to estimate and detect the zone of seawater leakage. The embankment is generally affected by tidal variation and has low resistivity characteristics due to the high saturation of seawater. For this reason, SP monitoring and the pole-pole array resistivity surveys, which are relatively more effective to the conductive media, were carried out to delineate the leakage zones of sea water through the embankment. We checked out electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature variations along the inner part of Youngsan estuary dam to detect the zone of seawater leakage and found that the measured EC value agreed to that of seawater in the leakage zone and the temperature was lower than that of the vicinity of leakage zone. SP monitoring results were coincided with tidal variations at each embankment. At the leakage zones in the Youngsan estuary dam and the Eoeun embankment, SP anomalies are in the range of -60~-85 mV and -20~-50 mV, respectively, and true resistivity values obtained by 2-D inversion are 3~15 ohm-m and below 0.3 ohm-m, respectively. Both SP monitoring and the pole-pole array resistivity method are found to be quite effective for investigation of seawater leakage zones in the embankment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2004

The paper decribes a procedure for the evaluation of the effect of seepage force on stability of slopes. The stability of an embankment impounding a water reservoir is highly depend upon the location of seepage line with the embankment. To evaluate the accurate safety factor of an embankment, it is important to illustrate the seepage phenomenon. Of particular interest is the stability following a rapid change of reservoir level. Seepage forces in embankments are easily determined interest is the stability following a rapid change of resrvoir level. Seepage forces in embankments are easily detemined if frictional forces are expressed in relation to hydraulic gradient I. If a piezometer is inserted into a body of embankment, the level to which fee water rises is a measure of the energy at that point.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.15-26
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• 2016

Dam and embankment are very important civil structures. Grouting is widely used to repair and maintain dam and embankment, and it is important to evaluate the effect of grouting for dam safety. The non-destructive method based on determination of wave velocity in the dam or embankment is effectively used to evaluate grouting effect because wave velocity is identical with stiffness and grouting increases local stiffness in a dam. In this paper, HWAW (Harmonic wavelet analysis of waves) method was applied to evaluate the grouting effect. HWAW method can determine two-dimensional shear wave velocity map with good spatial resolution and the shear velocity profile by the proposed method is sensitive to a variation of stiffness of target system. Through numerical simulation and field tests, the applicability of HWAW method in determining grouting effect is shown.