EFFECT OF ADDING DOWNSTREAM BERMS ON SEISMIC MITIGATION OF EMBANKMENTS

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assoc. Prof., Civil Engineering Dep., Suez Canal University, Egypt

2 Post Graduate Student, Aswan University, Egypt

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of embankments subjected to seismic loading. Finite
element analysis using Plaxis dynamic software program was carried out to evaluate the crest
settlement of a dense sand embankment on rock foundation before and after adding downstream
berms. Undraind analysis is carried out using Mohr-Coulomb criteria. The numerical intensities are
close to previous studies and the results show that the best embankment performance is when the
berm is added in downstream at height equals to half of the embankment total height. The
downstream berm slope has no significant effect on crest settlement for slopes less than 1.5H: 1V. It
is also found that when adding two downstream berms, the best mitigation is obtained when the top < br />berm is at two third the embankment and the bottom berm is added at one third the total
embankment height.

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Main Subjects