Effects of abutment slopes on the performance of high rockfill dams: Discussion

Abstract

The authors have presented an interesting study of the three-dimensional performance of high embankment dams. They note that the paper presents part of a program of study. Presentation of a few more details would be of benefit in studying the results presented. There is insufficient information to judge what the element sizes might be. In particular, what sizes are the elements in the thin filter zones, in the upper area of the core where tensile stresses develop, and in the nearby transition zones? The concern of the discusser is that there are sufficient elements in these thin zones that the model does not