Citation

Luo Y, Zhan M, Jinchang S, Wu Q, He S. Disaster Adv. 2012; 5(4): 139-143.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Shankar Gargh)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The soil-structure interface is the weakest part in dams, especially for the 200 similar to 300m high earth rock-fill dams. We studied the hydro-mechanical coupling characteristics on the interface between highly plastic clay and a concrete cut-off wall under high stress, high hydraulic gradient and large shear deformation using a new Soil-Structure Contact Shear Permeameter. The results indicate that (1) the essential of structure shear failure is due to the hydro-mechanical coupling effect. The interface seepage failure may cause structure shear failure when the ratio of deviatoric stress to confining pressure is within 1.0 similar to 1.2. (2) The stress-strain curve on the soil-structure interface is the strain softening type, and the tangent elastic modulus increases with the confining pressure. (3) The radial shear cracks on the top of cut-off wall are signals for the further structure shear failure.