Study of the rockfill and analysis of the structural · behaviour of Paradela dam

Abstract

ln Portugal there are no rockfill dams with upstream concrete face constructed with the new techniques using thin layers densely compacted with vibrating rollers. This reason led us to study the Paradela rockfill dam in order to know the resistance and durability of the granite rock material. Modelling the granulometry by means of curves approximately parallel to those of the prototype, led to obtain the stress-strain characteristics of the embankment. The material was tested in two diferent compaction states, one similar to the existing in the embankment and the other, in a dense state similar to the one that would be obtained if the rockfill was built with the modem techniques of construction. The results of the computations, performed using the finite element method (FEM) showed that the measured settlement of the embankment is about four times greater than the settlement that would be obtained if the embankment was built with the new techniques using thin layers compacted with vibrating rollers.