Evaluation of the Instability Risk of the Dam Slopes Simulated with Monte Carlo method (Case Study: Alborz Dam)

Abstract

Embankment dams are one of the most important geotechnical structures that their failures can lead to disastrous damages. One of the main causes of dam failure is its slope instability. Slope Stability analysis has traditionally been performed using the deterministic approaches. These approaches show the safety of slope only with factor of safety that this factor cannot take into account the uncertainty in soil parameters. Hence, to investigate the impact of uncertainties in soil parameters on slope stability, probabilistic analysis by Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) method was used in this research. MCS method is a computational algorithm that uses random sampling to compute the results. This method studies the probability of slope failure using the distribution function of soil parameters. Stability analysis of upstream and downstream slopes of Alborz dam in all different design modes was done in both static and quasi-static condition. Probability of failure and reliability index were investigated for critical failure surfaces. Based on the reliability index obtained in different conditions, it can be said that the downstream and upstream slope of the Alborz dam is stable. The results show that although the factor of safety for upstream slope in the state of earthquake loading was enough, but the results derived from probabilistic analysis indicate that the factor of safety is not adequate. Also the upstream slope of the Alborz dam is unstable under high and uncontrolled explosions conditions in steady seepage from different levels under quasi-static terms.