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Chapter Three
Embankment Dam Engineering
2.1. Introduction
Embankment dams are built of soil or rock‐fill or both. As soil and rock‐fill are non‐rigid
materials, the embankment dams are called non‐rigid dams. The embankment dams are
broadly classified as:
1. Earth dams (mainly constructed from earth or soil)
2. Rock fill dams (mainly constructed from rock fill or pieces of rocks)
3. Composite dams (these are constructed from both soil and rock fill )
Earth dams can be constructed on almost all type of foundations, provided suitable
measures are taken. They are more suitable than gravity dams if strong foundation at a
reasonable depth is not available at the site for the construction of gravity dams. It is
cheaper than gravity dams if the soil in abundant quantity is available near the site. Rock
fill dams require somewhat stronger foundation as compared to earth dams, but need not
to be strong as gravity dams.
2.2.1 Classification of Earth Dams
Earth dams can be divided into the three types based on the selection of the materials:
A. Homogenous Earth dams: usually composed only one material which is either
semi‐ impervious or impervious to limit seepage.
Modified Homogenous section: as pure homogenous section has the problem of sliding
and piping, the base is quite wide. Hence, it is usual practice to include an internal
drainage system in the form of horizontal drainage blanket, rock toe or a combination.
The internal drainage system keeps the phreatic line (saturation line) with in the body of the
dam and reduces the pore water pressure.

Figure 2.2.1: ‐ Earth Dams (a) homogenous section (b) with horizontal drainage blanket

B. Zoned earth dam: ‐ it composes more than one type of soil. It has a central
and (C) with rock toe

impervious core flanked by shells of pervious material u/s and d/s side. A
transition filter is usually required b/n core and shell to prevent piping.
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The central core is used to check seepage and is constructed from clay, silty clay
or clayey silt. The pervious shell is used for stability and is constructed from sand,
gravel, or mixture of these. The transition filter is used to prevent the migration of
materials from the core to the shell. The d/s transition filter is useful during steady
seepage conditions and the u/s filter is useful during sudden drawdown
conditions.

C. Diaphram‐type earth dam: ‐ it consist thin impervious core, called diaphragm

Figure 2‐2.2: Zoned earth dams

surrounded by pervious shell. The difference b/n zoned and diaphragm dam is the

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thickness of the core. If the thickness of the core at any elevation is less than the
height of the embankment above that elevation, the dam is generally considered to
be diaphragm type.
Selection of the optimum type of embankments for a specific location is determined
largely by the nature and availability of different fill materials in sufficient quantity.
2.2.2 Cause of Failures of Embankment Dams
Embankment dams, may fail due to improper design, faulty constructions, lack of
maintenance, etc. Generally, causes of failure are grouped into three classes: Hydraulic
failure, Seepage failure, and Structural failure.
a Hydraulic failures: About 40% of earth dam failures have been attributed to these

1. Overtopping: ‐ It is the most common cause of failure of an embankment dam.

causes due to;

This kind of dams doesn’t withstand overtopping. Overtopping of earth dam

occurs if:
a. The design flood is undermined;
b. The spillway capacity is not adequate;
c. The spillway gates are not properly operated;
d. The free board is not sufficient; and
e. Excessive settlement of the foundation and dam occur.

Figure 2.2.3: ‐ Overtopping failure

2. Erosion of upstream faces: Wind waves of water developed due to wind near the
top water try to notch‐out the soil from u/s face and may even sometimes causes
the slip of the u/s slope. (To prevent this, upstream slope pitching or rip rap
should be applied.)
3. Erosion of downstream face: Heavy rains falling directly over d/s face and the
erosive action of the moving water may lead to the formation of gullies on the d/s
face, ultimately leading to the dam failure. To avoid this, suitable berms with
collection drains should be provided to check the velocity of flowing water.
4. Erosion of d/s toe due to tail water: It may occur due to the following:
a. Cross currents that originate from the spillway bucket, if a spillway is
provided along the dam b. Waves developed in the tail water.
To prevent this, pitching is provided up to the height slightly above normal tail
water depth.
5. Cracking due to frost action: If the dam is located at a place where the
temperature falls below zero, frost may form in the pores of the soil in the earth
dam. Where there is heaving, the cracks may form in the soil and it may lead
seepage and then failure.
To avoid failure by this action, the soil susceptible to frost formation should not
be used.
b Seepage failure: it may occur due to the following causes
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a. Piping through the dam: ‐ If the seepage is uncontrolled and concentrated, it

may lead to piping and subsequent failure of earth dams. It is the progressive
backward erosion starting from the exit point and subsequent removal of the soil
from the body of the dam and the formation of pipe‐like conduit inside the dam.
Piping occurs when the seepage force is very large and concentrated. It starts at
the point where the water emerges from the body of the dam (d/s face of the
dam). It occurs due to:
i. Poor construction: if the soil of the dam is not properly compacted (b/n
foundation and embankment material, successive layers)
ii. Differential settlement
iii. Burrowing animals
iv. Surface cracks

b. Piping through the foundation: ‐ it occurs when the rate pressure drop resulting
v. Presence of roots

from seepage through the foundation exceeds the resistance of the soil particles.
The particle tends to move and piping occurs due to removal of the finer
particles from the region just downstream of the toe of the embankment. It
occurs when there are pockets of loose soil in the foundation.

c. Conduit Leakage: ‐ cracks may develop in conduits provided for outlet due to
Figure 2‐2.3: Piping failure through the dam and foundation

d. Sloughing of d/s toe: ‐ sloughing is the process in which the soil mass fails
foundation settlement. Hence leakage may occur through this crack.

down after saturation. It occurs under reservoir full condition when the d/s
portion of the dam becomes saturated and continuously remains in the same
state, causing softening and weakening of the soil mass. It usually occurs when

Structural failure: ‐ about 25% of the dam failures have been attributed to structural
the phreatic line cuts the d/s dam face.
c
failures. Structural failures are generally caused by shear failures, causing slides. It
includes the following:
I. Slides in embankment II. Foundation slides
III. Liquefaction soil IV. Failures by spreading
V. Failures due to earthquakes VI. Holes caused by animals
2.2.3 Earth Dam Design features
The preliminary section of an earth dam should be selected to prevent failures that can be
caused by Hydraulic, Seepage and Structural. If it fails by one of them, the section should
be revised.
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In the preliminary section, the following parameters should be decided:

1. Embankments crest width: the top width of larger earthen dam should be
sufficient to keep the seepage line well within the dam, when reservoir is full. The
crest should have a width of not less than 4m, and should carry a surfaced and
well‐drained access road. The top width (W) of the earth dam can be selected as
per the following recommendation:
W = 0.2* H+ 3, for very low dams (H<10m)
W = 0.55 H + 0.2 H, For (10<H<30m)
W =1.65(H +1.5)1/ 2, for high dams (H> 30m)
Where: H is the height of the dam.
2. Freeboard: is the difference between maximum reservoir level and top of crest
level. Free board should be adequate so that there is no possibility of dam being
overtopped. When wind blows over water, a horizontal force develops on the
water surface in the direction of the wind. This results in the water piling up at the
downwind boundary of the reservoir. This phenomenon is referred to as wind tide
or setup, S, where S represents the rise in water level above the normal horizontal
reservoir surface at the downwind boundary. Hence, the free board should be
adequate against the wave action and wind set‐up.
The free board is calculated based on Steven Son formula, which is
modified by Monitor:
Fb = hw + R + S; Where: Fb = Free board (cm)
The wave height can be estimated from:
hw = 0.032 V.F + 0.763 − 0.2471(F)1/ 4
The Zuider Zee formula is commonly used to
calculate wind setup.
S = (V 2F cosα)/ (63,000D)
Where, F = fetch length, the maximum distance b/n reservoir remote to the dam face
[km],
V = wind velocity of the area [km/hr],
D = average reservoir depth[m],
α = angle of the wind to the fetch [degree], and
S = wind setup) [m]
R = Wave run‐up: it can be taken as 50% of wave height

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Figure 2.2.4: ‐Definition Sketch for wind Setup (S) and fetch length (F)
3. U/S and D/S slopes of the dam: ‐ The slopes depend on the type of the material,
foundation condition, height of the dam, and others. There is general rule for
slopes but stability determines its final value.

Table 2‐1: ‐Tentative value of slopes recommended by Terzaghi for preliminary section

Type of Section Type of Material U/S slope D/S slope

well‐graded material 2.5:1 2:1
Coarse silt 3:1 2.5:1
Homogenous Silty clay or Clay: H<15m 2.5:1 2:1
section Silty clay or Clay: H≥ 15m 3:1 2.5:1
Sand or gravel shells with clay core 3:1 2.5:1

4. Core thickness: ‐ The thickness of the core should be enough to keep the phreatic
Zoned Section Sand or gravel shells with RCC core 2.5:1 2:1

line within it. It may have a top width of not less than 4m for easy of construction.
The side slopes of the core in any case should not be greater than (x‐0.5:1) on the
upstream and (y‐0.5:1) on the downstream, where x: 1 is the upstream slope of the
shell and y: 1 is the d/s slope of the shell. The minimum u/s and d/s slopes of the

5. Foundation seepage control: ‐ seepage flows and pressure within the foundation
core are usually 1.5:1 and 1:1 respectively.

are controlled by cut‐offs and by drainage. Cut‐offs is impervious barriers which

function as extensions of the embankments core into foundation. The cut‐offs are
generally two types:
a) Fully penetrating cut‐off: penetrate to impervious strata
b) Partially penetrating cut‐off: terminate where the head loss across the cut‐

6. Downstream Drainage: ‐ it is required for all types of earth dams. The drainage
off is sufficient to effect the required degree of control

system consists of materials more pervious than the embankment material so that

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the water seeping through the embankment is easily drained out. The type of
drainage systems includes the following: a) Drainage of the dam
i. Horizontal drainage blanket
ii. Rock toe
iii. Chimney drain
b) Drainage of the foundation
i. Toe drain
ii. Relief walls iii. Vertical sand drains
7. Upstream face protection: several options are available for protection of the
upstream face against wave erosion, ranging from traditional stone pitching with
grouted joints through concrete facing slabs to the use of concrete block work,
rock armoring and riprap.

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Figure 2.2.5 up stream face protection

2.2.3 Seepage analysis
Seepage occurs through the body of all earthen dams and also through their pervious
foundation. The phreatic surface of the seepage regime, i.e. line within the dam section
below which there is positive hydrostatic pressure, must be kept away from the
downstream face to avoid high pore water pressure which may promote slope instability.
Assumptions:
1. Water is incompressible,
2. The rolled embankment and natural soil foundations are incompressible and
porous. The size of the pore space through which the water seeps remains the
same, regardless of the water pressure.
3. The seepage water flows under a hydraulic gradient which is due only gravity
head loss.
4. The quantity of flow (water) entering the soil in a given time is the same as the
quantity flowing out of soil.
5. The hydraulic boundary conditions are known (exit and entry).
Let us consider an element of soil of the size Δx by Δy and unity thickness.

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The amount of seepage can be easily computed from the flow net, which consists of two
sets of curves, known as ‘Equipotential line’ and ‘stream lines’, mutually perpendicular
to each other. For homogeneous embankments dam, discharge per unit width (q) of the
dam passing through a flow net is described as:
q = k *H * N f / Nd
Where: H is the head differential.
Nf is number of stream lines.
Nd id number of equipotential lines
2.2.4 Determination of Phreatic Lines
It is absolutely essential to determine the position of the phreatic line, as its position will
enable to determine the following:
i. The divide line between the dry (or moist) and submerged soil.
ii. The top stream line and hence, helps us in drawing the flow net.
iii. To ensure that the phreatic line doesn’t cut the downstream face of the dam,
which is extremely necessary for preventing softening of the dam.
A. Homogeneous dam section with horizontal filter
It has been found that the seepage line is pushed down by the filter and it is very nearly
parabolic except near its junction with u/s face. Since the u/s face of the dam (i.e. GB)
becomes an equipotential line when fully covered with water, the seepage line shall be
perpendicular to the face near its junction point B.

Figure 2.2.6 phreatic line for homogenous dam section with horizontal filter
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Equation of the base parabola

Let a base parabola with focus at F is drawn and produced so as to intersect the water
surface at a point A as shown in Figure 2‐5. X is positive in the direction of u/s and y is
positive for upward. From the basic property of the parabola, the distance of the point P
from the focus is equal to that from the directrix: Distance PF= Distance PR

The center point (C) of FD will then be the vertex of the parabola. From equation (a):
when x = 0, y= S. Hence the vertical ordinate FJ at F will be equal to S. Knowing the
points A, C, and J and working out a few more points from the equation, the parabola can
be easily drawn and corrected for the curve BI, so as to get the seepage line BIJC. The
surface FC at which the seepage flow emerges is known as the discharge face and it
always remains wet.

The amount of seepage can also be calculated easily from the equation of the seepage line
as derived below. Darcy’s law is defined as, q = KiA. When steady conditions have
reached, the discharge crossing any vertical plane across the dam section (unit width) will
be the same. Hence, the value i and A can be taken for any point on the seepage line

B. Homogeneous dam section without horizontal filter

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In this case, the phreatic line cuts the d/s faces at point J above the toe. Cassagrande has
shown that the phreatic line concides with the base parabola provided the slope of the d/s
face is flat. The focus (F) of the parabola is located at the toe of the dam. The base
parabola BIJC will cut the downstream slope at J and extend beyond the dam toe up to
the point C i.e. the vertex of the parabola.

Figure 2.2.7 phreatic line for homogeneous dam section without filter
The seepage line will, however, emerge out at K, meeting the downstream face
tangentially. The portion KF is known as discharge face and always saturated. Because
the phreatic line cannot go outside the limit of the dam, the base parabola needs an exit
correction. The correction JK (say ∆a) by which the parabola is to be shifted downward
can be determined as follows from the table below. Casagrande has shown that the exit
correction ∆a depends up on the slope α of the discharge face:
Δa α in Δa
1
α in degrees
a+Δa degrees a+Δa
o
30o 0.36 135 0.14
o o
60 0.32 150 0.10
o o
90 0.26 180 0.0
o
120 0.18

C. Zoned earth dam with central core

As the ratio of the permeabilities of the materials of the shell and core is very large, the
effect of the outer shells on the phreatic line in the core is negligible. Hence, the u/s face
of shell has no effect on the position of the phreatic line and the d/s shell acts as a drain.
The phreatic line starts at point B where the water level cuts the core. The focus F of the
base parabola is located at d/s toe of the core. As the permeability of the shell is very high
as compared with the core, the phreatic line will be drawn for the core only by
considering as a homogeneous section as discussed earlier.

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Figure 2.2.8 phreatic line for Zoned earth dam

2.2.5 Construction of flow net
Some important properties of flow nets are discussed as below:
i. Flow lines and equipotential lines meet at right angles to each other
ii. Equipotential lines intersect the phreatic line at right angles
iii. The pressure at the phreatic line is zero, and the successive equipotential lines
make equal vertical intercepts on the phreatic lines
iv. The flow field obtained by the intersections of the equipotential lines and the flow
lines are approximately squares in shape.
v. The discharge b/n any two adjacent flow lines is constant
vi. The smaller the dimensions of the flow field, the greater the hydraulic gradient and
the velocity of flow through it. vii. In a homogenous soil, every transition in the
flow lines and equipotential lines is smooth and gradual.

Figure 2.2.9 Flow net for homogenous earth dam having horizontal drain
2.2.6 Slope Stability Analysis
After selecting the preliminary section, it should be checked against the following to
satisfy the safety criteria
a. Checking against seepage and pore water pressure
b. Checking the d/s slope for steady‐seepage condition
c. Checking u/s slope for sudden drawdown condition
d. Checking u/s and d/s slope during construction period.
Three considerations govern the design of an earth embankment:
1. side slopes must be stable;
2. Dimensions must be sufficient to control seepage;
3. Base width must be long enough to distribute weight of dam over sufficient area
to prevent overstress in the foundation.
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An earthen embankment usually fails because of the sliding of a large soil mass along a
curved surface. The method used for examining the stability of slopes of earthen
embankments is called the Swedish Slip Circle Method or Slice Method. It assumes the
condition of plain strain with failure along a cylindrical arc. The location of the Centre of
the possible failure arc is assumed. The earth mass is divided into a number of vertical
segments called slices as shown in Figure 2.2.8, O is the center and R is the radius of the
possible failure.

Figure 2.2.10 possible slip surface in Earth fill dam

Let us consider the equilibrium of one slice shown hatched, the following forces act on it;
1. Self-weight, W acting downward through its center of gravity
2. Cohesive force, C along the curved surface in the direction opposite to the
direction of movement of the wedge. It is equal to cΔL, where c is the unit
cohesion and ΔL is length of base strip.
3. Reaction R at the base of the strip, acting a line inclined at an angle φ to the
normal, where φ is the angle of shearing resistance of the soil.
4. The soil reactions ER and EL acting on the vertical sides of the slice exerted by
the adjacent slices on the right and left. ER and EL are equal and opposite.
5. Force due to pore water pressure UL, UR and UB acting on the left, right and base
of the slices. UL and UR are opposite in direction and balanced. U B acts in the
normal direction.

Hence, for analysis using Swedish circle method, there are only four forces remain; W, C,
R and UB. UB is due to pore water pressure and will be zero, if the soil is dry.
Let the weight, W be resolved in to normal, N and tangential, T component. As the
normal passes through the center, the direction of N is first marked in the normal
direction. A perpendicular is drawn from the tip of the vector W to the normal direction
to determine N and T. Thus,
N =W cos θ and T= W sin θ, where θ is the angle which the normal makes with
the vertical

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N‐UB =R cos φ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ (a) where R is the reaction at the base of the slice
Resolving all the forces in the normal direction:

T‐C =R sin φ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ (b)

Resolving all the forces in the tangential direction:

T‐C = [(N‐UB)
Substituting the value of R from eqn (a) in to (b):

T‐C = (N‐UB)
/cos φ] sin φ

T= (N‐UB) tan φ + cΔL

tan φ

Hence, the tangent component of the force (actuating) is balanced by the frictional
resistance and cohesion resistance (resisting).

Thus the factor of safety is given by:

Fs= (Sum of the resisting moment)/ (sum of the actuating moment)
Fs = tanφ∑(W cosθ−uΔL)+∑cΔL , where u, the pore water pressure at the base
of the slice
∑W sinθ
and ΔL is the arc of the slice (b secθ)
Fs = tanφ∑(W cosθ−ubsecθ)+∑cbsecθ

∑W sinθ

Procedure for the determination of the factor of safety of the trial slip surface
1. Take a trial slip surface and divide the wedge above the slip surface in to 8 to 15
vertical slices;
2. Determine the weight of each slice, W=(b*Z)*γ, where: b=width of the slice,
Z=middle ordinate of the slice, and γ= unit weight of the soil;
3. Measure the angle θ which the normal makes with the vertical and compute the
normal, N and tangential, T component. N =W cos θ and T= W sin θ
4. Determine the pore water pressure (u) at the base of the slice from the flow net
and compute the force UB due to pore water pressure. UB= u*ΔL =u*b secθ
5. Determine the cohesive force, C=c* b secθ
6. Determine the factor of safety for the trail slip surface:
Fs = tanφ∑(W cosθ−ubsecθ)+∑cbsecθ

∑W sinθ
7. Repeat the above procedure for a number of trial surfaces. The trial surface which
gives the minimum factor of safety is the most critical circle. The minimum factor
of safety should be greater than the specified safe value of the soil.
2.2.6 Location of the Most Critical Circle
For determining the stability of the proposed side slope of an earth dam it is necessary to
find the least factor of safety which may occur on any of the possible surfaces of slippage
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or slip circles. Slip circle which yields the least factor of safety is the most critical and
hence it is known as critical surface slippage or critical slip circle. For locating the
critical surface of slippage, it is necessary to try several different surfaces of slippage as
one trial are gives the value of factor of safety for that arc only.

In order to reduce the number of trials, Fellenius has suggested a method of drawing a
line, representing the locus of the critical slip circle. The determination of this line PQ is
shown in Figure 2‐10. To draw Fellenius line PQ, point Q is located at a depth H below
the toe of slope and at a distance of 4.5H from it, where H is the total height of the dam.
The point P is obtained with the help of directional angles α1 and α2.

(a) (b)
Figure 2‐12:‐ Locus of critical circle (a) for d/s slope, (b) for u/s slope

Slope of the Directional angles

face α1 in degrees α2 in degrees
1:1 28 37
1.5:1 26 35
2:1 25 35
3:1 25 35
5:1 25 35

1. Stability of downstream slope during steady seepage (reservoir full)

The most critical condition for the d/s slope occurs when the reservoir is full and the
seepage is taking place at full rate. The seepage water below the phreatic line exerts a
pore pressure on the soil mass which lies below

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the phreatic line, see Figure 2‐11.

b

α4
V41
Phreatic line
h4 V42

N4
W4 τ4

Figure 2‐13:‐ stability of Downstream slope during steady seepage

Consider slice number 4 in the above Figure, the weight of the slice is defined as:
W4 =γdry *V41 +γsat *V42
α4 read from the scaled drawing of the earth fill dam. And tangential component of W4 is
defined as, whish is shear stress developed at failure plane:
T4 =W4 sinα4

The pore pressure for slice 4 is represented by the piezometric head h 4. Hence, pore water
pressure is:
U w4 =γwh4

Shear strength developed for the slice is quantified from two soil parameters, apparent
cohesion c and angle of shearing resistance ф. Shear strength at failure plane is defined
as:
τ4 =cL4 +(W4 cosα4 −γwh4L4)tanφ
b
Where; L4 is

cosα 4
The factor of safety of slide 4 is :
T4 cL4 +(W cosα4 −γwh4L4 ) tanφ
FS4 = = τ4 W4 sinα 4

The factor of safety for the entire circle is then given by the equation:
FS =∑ci L i +∑(Wi cosαi −γwhi Li )tanφ

∑Wi sinαi

Table 2‐2: ‐ Loading condition & FoS min. (USACE)

Case Loading Condition Critical Slope FOS min
1 End of construction Upstream 1.3
Downstream 1.3
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2 Sudden drawdown Upstream 1.3

3 Steady state Seepage Upstream 1.5
Downstream 1.5
4 Steady state seepage Upstream 1.1
with earthquake Downstream 1.1

2.3 Design of Transition Filters

Properly designed graded filters are required between the drain system and the adjoining
soil to prevent the migration of the soil particles into the drains which may cause piping.
Filters are graded so that the finer layers are adjacent to the drains. Filters are also
provided b/n the core of fine‐grained soils and the shells of the coarse‐grained soils to
prevent migration of particles from the impervious zone to the pervious zone when the
seepage flow takes place.
The two basic requirements of the filter that should be satisfied are:
1. The filter material should be fine enough to prevent the particles of the protected
soil from being washed into its voids. According to Terzaghi, this requirement
will be satisfied, if D15 size of the filter material is not more than 4 to 5 times
D85 of the base (protected) material
2. The filter material should be coarse enough so that it acts as a drain for the
protected material. Again, according to Terzaghi, this requirement will be
satisfied, if the D15 size of the filter material is at least 4 to 5 times the D15 size
of the protected material.
Both the above criteria can be written as:

D15 of the filter material < 4 to 5 D15 of the filter material

D85 of the protected material D15 of the protected
material
2.4 Dam Surface Protection
2.4.3 U/S face protection
The u/s face should be protected against erosive action due to the waves. The protective
layer starts at the top of the dam and extends some meter from the minimum water level.
It may be stone, pre‐cast concrete blocks, monolithic concrete pavements, and others. For
earth dams, stone rip rap is mostly used.
2.4.4 D/S face protection
The d/s face of the dam should be protected against erosion due to wind and rain above
the tail water level and due to waves below that level. The rip rap is provided on the d/s
face below the tail water level for protection against waves. In addition to surface
protection, the d/s face of the dam should be provided with suitable berms to minimize
surface erosion due to rains. Generally, one berm is provided for each 10m height
increase. The berms are usually serves for one or more of the following purposes:
a. To break the continuity of the d/s slope and hence to reduce the erosion due to
rain water;

Prepared By: Gebrehiwet. H. (MSc.)

G3 WRIE Students 18
Gambella University Dam Engineering I 2023

b. To provide a level surface for the construction and maintenance operation;

c. To prevent the undermining of the lower edge of the stone pitching provided on
the d/s face; and
d. To help in preventing the sloughing of the d/s slope to some extent.
2.5 Rock fill Dams
It is a type of the dam in which rock fragments (rock fill) is the main construction
material. The mass stability of a rock fill dam is mainly developed by the friction and
interaction of the particles.
A rock dam usually consists of two basic structural elements:
1. An embankment built of rock fill
2. An impervious element
The embankment provides the support and the stability, while the impervious element
checks the seepage through the dam.
There are basically two types of rock fill dams:
1. Impervious membrane type
2. Earth core type
2.5.3 Design consideration of Rock fill dam
The design and construction of a rock fill dam is governed by more or less the same
principles as those used in an earth dam. Rock fill dams require much strong foundation
than earth dams but not strong as concrete dams. More or less the design and construction
of rock fill dams is almost similar to that of earth dams.

Prepared By: Gebrehiwet. H. (MSc.)

G3 WRIE Students 19