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Using wedge-shaped concrete blocks (WSCB) to protect earth dams against overtopping has received much attention in recent years. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of the infiltrated flow through the WSCBs system into the downstream shell of the earth dam. Moreover, its effects on the downstream slope stability are investigated using the finite-element analysis. A typical zoned earth overflow dam with the WSCB spillway is modelled. For this case study, the effects of depth and duration of overtopping as well as the permeability coefficient of the shell materials on the water infiltration pattern and the downstream safety factor are studied. The results show that if the permeability coefficient of shell materials is more than 10−3 cm/s, even for overflow with shallow depths, the infiltration rate and the extent of the saturated region will rapidly increase. Consequently, the safety factors will significantly decrease for such cases. However, if the materials with permeability coefficient less t...

Permanent ground deformation is one of the most damaging hazards for continuous buried lifelines. In this paper, numerical models using a Finite Element Method (FEM) were developed to analyze the buried High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines subjected to the normal fault motions. The numerical predictions, were compared with those from ASCE Guidelines and with the experimental results obtained from geotechnical centrifuge tests. Moreover, the paper focuses on the effects of the design parameters such as, pipe diameter and thickness, pipeline burial depth, friction angle and density of the soil surrounding the pipe on the maximum bending strain as well as bending strain distribution along the pipeline. The results show that numerical models using a finite element method could produce reasonable predictions. However, the maximum predicted bending strains from the ASCE Guidelines are larger than those from experiments. The pipe deformation mechanisms are also significantly influenced by variation in burial depth, pipe surface characteristics, and backfill type.