Page - 1129 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering

Fig. 2 Life cycle phases for dams 4. LONG-TERM BEHAVIOUR OF EMBANKMENT DAMS The long-term behaviour of large embankment dams are assessed by analyzing of measurement data derived from the observation of deformation, stresses, pore water pressures, and seepage flow. Changes of material characteristics have to be determined by direct probing and testing in field or in the laboratory. According to ICOLD Bulletin No. 93 [4] ageing processes and its effects are usually formed by the listed terms:  Deformation  Decrease of shear strength  Pore water pressure increase  Erosion/suffusion processes  Surface erosion processes  Deterioration of construction material characteristics Escpecially creeping and consolidation processes contribute to long-term deformations. Embankment and rockfill dams which are constructed according to modern dam construction criteria show a totel settlement of less than 1.0 % of the dam height. The long-term settlement are frequently obtained after decades of operation. 1129