Abstract
The finite element analysis of an earth dam and dam foundation is described. The 40 m high Pukaki High Dam, in the South Island of New Zealand, is founded on glacial outwash gravels and ice contacted sands. Triaxial tests were performed on undisturbed block samples of the foundation material, and compacted samples of the core and shoulder materials. The shape of the non-linear stress-strain curves was described with a simple mathematical expression. A finite element program was adopted to handle the non-linear stress-strain behaviour and to perform an incremental analysis of the dam construction process. Comparison between linear and non-liner analyses reveals that the non-linear behaviour increases the settlement by 30%.
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