Behaviour of an Earth Dam Using Finite Element Modelling with Different Soil Constitutive Models: Case Study of El Hma Dam, Ben Arous, Tunisia

Abstract

The present paper deals with the analysis of the behaviour of an earth dam at the end of construction, during the first filling of the reservoir and at long term by using Finite Element Method. In this analysis, El Hma dam, which located in Tunisia, has been selected as a case study. Three constitutive laws including elastic, Mohr-Coulomb and Drucker-Prager, were assumed to present the material characteristics of the dam and its foundation. Attention will be given to the study of predicted deformation, stresses and pore pressure distributions. The interpretations of the predicted results lead to evaluate the dam behaviour.