Interconnection between Stress-strain State and Pore Water Pressure in Earth Core Rockfill Dam

Statement of the problem. Analytical methods of analysis do not allow explaining the effect of fast dissipation of pore water pressure in clay cores of rockfill dams, which is observed during construction period. Research of this effect is accomplished by joint solving of the stress-strain state task and the problem of the seepage regime of a high dam using the finite-element method. Results. The analysis permitted establishing that acceleration or pore water pressure dissipation occurs due to deformations of the dam lateral expansion. These deformations provide decrease of volume deformations of compaction and, consequently, of pore pressure. Pore water pressure contributes to deformations of lateral expansion. Conclusion. The processes forming the stress-strain state and the pore pressure are interconnected, therefore, it is sufficient to simulate the process of the dam core soil consolidation only by joint solving of the static-seepage problem.