OPTIMIZATION OF THE IDEALIZATION OF FINITE ELEMENT FOR EARTH AND ROCKFILL . DAMS

Abstract

The objective of the studies, undertaken in this study, was the establishment of an optimal mathematical model of an earth and rockfill for nonlinear analysis to account for the sequential construction. In order to achieve the above defined objective parametric studies were conducted to establish the optimal number of lifts and the optimal number of elements . The constraints imposed on the determination of the optimal mesh configuration being the determination of the displacements and the stresses within reasonable limits of accuracy. The first phase of the study was directed at establishing the optimal number of lifts by studying the variation of the displacements and stresses at three sections defined at the middle of the shell, interface of the core and shell and at the middle of the core. The second phase of he study was based on the optimal number of lifts and was primarily directed at establishing the optimal number of elements in each lift based on considerations as defined earlier....