Application of Random Field Finite Element Analysis to Earthfill Dams

Resumo

The safety assessment of earthfill dams has traditionally relied on limit equilibrium methods, which require the predefinition of a failure surface and provide limited insight into stress-strain behavior and material variability. This study presents a simplified application of Random Field Finite Element Method (RFEM) to model the spatial variability of geomechanical parameters in an earthfill dam. A two-dimensional stress-strain simulation of a clay-core rockfill dam section is performed, incorporating random fields to represent material heterogeneity. The model also implements the shear strength reduction method to estimate reliability metrics. The results are directly compared to those obtained using limit equilibrium analysis to evaluate the observed failure mechanisms and reduction factors. Additionally, a probabilistic analysis considering a homogeneous section was carried out for comparison, allowing the evaluation of the influence of spatial variability on the dam's safety assessment.