Analysis of the Pre-failure and Failure Behavior of a Levee on Soft Subsoil

Abstract

The main aim of Theme C of the 15th International Benchmark Workshop on Numerical Analysis of Dams is the evaluation of currently available computational techniques and numerical models for the assessment of dykes on soft subsoil. For this purpose, the results of a full-scale test on a regional dyke on soft subsoil located in the Kagerplassen, in South Holland has been applied. In this study, a coupled hydro-mechanical analysis was performed in order to predict and describe the pre-failure and failure behavior of this structure. The 2D finite element code GEOSTUDIO 2016 was utilized for the analysis, where within the modelled period the state of failure of the structure was reached. Subsequently the modelled pre-failure behavior was compared to the measured data gained from the performed full-scale test and a back-analysis was conducted with emphasis on the applied material models and properties.