RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

6 RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

This example concerns the stability of a reservoir dam under conditions of drawdown.
Fast reduction of the reservoir level may lead to instability of the dam due to high pore
water pressures that remain inside the dam. The dam to be considered is 30 m high. The
top width and the base width of the dam are 5 m and 172.5 m respectively. The dam
consists of a clay core with a well graded fill at both sides. The geometry of the dam is
depicted in Figure 6.1. The normal water level behind the dam is 25 m high. A situation is
considered where the water level drops 20 m. The normal phreatic level at the right hand
side of the dam is 10 m below ground surface. The sub-soil consists of overconsolidated
silty sand.
50 m 77.5 m 5m 90 m 37.5 m

25 m
Core 30 m
Fill y
Fill
5m
x

Subsoil 30 m

120 m 20 m 120 m

Figure 6.1 Geometry of the dam

Objectives:
• Performing fully coupled flow deformation analysis
• Defining time-dependent hydraulic conditions
• Using unsaturated flow parameters

6.1 GEOMETRY

• Start the Input program and select the Start a new project from the Quick select
dialog box.
• In the Project properties window enter a proper title.
• Keep the default units and set the model dimensions to xmin = −130, xmax = 130,
ymin = 0 and ymax = 50.
Assuming the dam is located in a wide valley, a representative length of 50 m is
considered in the model in order to decrease the model size. The geometry of the model
is shown in Figure 6.2.

6.1.1 DEFINITION OF SOIL STRATIGRAPHY

In order to define the underlying foundation soil, a borehole needs to be added and
material properties must be assigned. A layer of 30 m overconsolidated silty sand is
considered as sub-soil in the model.
Create a borehole at (0.0 0.0). The Modify soil layers window pops up.

PLAXIS 3D 2016 | Tutorial Manual 93

TUTORIAL MANUAL

• Add a soil layer extending from ground surface (z = 0) to a depth of 30 m (z= -30).
• Set the Head in the borehole to -10 m. A horizontal water level will be automatically
generated. This water level in combination with surface groundwater flow boundary
conditions will be used in the Fully coupled flow deformation analyses.
Open the Material sets window.
• Create data sets under Soil and interfaces set type according to the information
given in Table 6.1. Note that the Interfaces and Initial tabsheets are not relevant (no
interfaces or K0 procedure used).
• Assign the Subsoil material data set to the soil layer in the borehole.
Table 6.1 Material properties of the dam and sub-soil
Parameter Name Core Fill Subsoil Unit
General
Material model Model Mohr Mohr Mohr -
Coulomb Coulomb Coulomb
Drainage type Type Undrained B Drained Drained -
Soil unit weight above p.l. γunsat 16.0 16.0 17.0 kN/m3
Soil unit weight below p.l. γsat 18.0 20.0 21.0 kN/m3
Parameters
Young's modulus E' 1.5·103 2.0·104 5.0·104 kN/m2
Poisson's ratio ν' 0.35 0.33 0.3 -
Cohesion c 'ref - 5.0 1.0 kN/m2
Undrained shear strength su,ref 5.0 - - kN/m2
◦
Friction angle ϕ' - 31 35.0
◦
Dilatancy angle ψ - 1.0 5.0
Young's modulus inc. E 'inc 300 - - kN/m2
Reference level zref 30 - - m
Undrained shear strength inc. su,inc 3.0 - - kN/m2
Reference level zref 30 - - m
Groundwater
Data set Model Hypres Hypres Hypres -
Model - Van Van Van -
Genuchten Genuchten Genuchten
Soil - Subsoil Subsoil Subsoil -
Soil coarseness - Very fine Coarse Coarse -
kx 1.0·10-4 0.25 0.01 m/day
Horizontal permeability
ky 1.0·10-4 0.25 0.01 m/day
Vertical permeability kz 1.0·10-4 0.25 0.01 m/day

6.1.2 DEFINITION OF THE EMBANKMENT

The embankment will be defined in the Structures mode.
Define a surface by specifying points located at (-80 0 0), (92.5 0 0), (2.5 0 30) and
(-2.5 0 30).
Define a surface by specifying points located at (-10 0 0), (10 0 0), (2.5 0 30) and
(-2.5 0 30).
• Multi-select the created surfaces and right-click on the draw area. Select the
Intersect and recluster option from the appearing menu.
• Multi-select the surfaces and extrude along (0 50.0 0) The volumes representing the
dam are generated.

94 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 3D 2016

 RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

• Delete the surfaces used to create the soil volumes.

• Assign the corresponding material data sets to the soil volumes.
Time dependent conditions can be assigned to surface groundwater flow boundary
conditions. Define surface groundwater flow boundary conditions (under the Create
hydraulic conditions tool) according to the information in Table 6.2.

Figure 6.2 The geometry of the model

Table 6.2 Surface groundwater flow boundary conditions

Surface Points
1 (-130 0 0), (-80 0 0), (-80 50 0), (-130 50 0)
2 (-80 0 0), (-2.5 0 30), (-2.5 50 30), (-80 50 0)
3 (-130 0 0), (-130 0 -30), (-130 50 -30), (-130 50 0)

6.2 MESH GENERATION

For the generation of the mesh it is advisable to set the Element distribution parameter to
Fine. To modify the global coarseness:
Click the Generate mesh button in the side toolbar. The Mesh options window is
displayed.
• Select the Fine option form the Element distribution drop-down (Figure 6.3).

Figure 6.3 Modification of the Global coarseness

• Click OK to close the Mesh options window and to generate the mesh.
Click the View mesh button in the side toolbar to preview the mesh. The resulting
mesh is displayed in Figure 6.4.

PLAXIS 3D 2016 | Tutorial Manual 95

TUTORIAL MANUAL

Figure 6.4 The resulting mesh

6.3 PERFORMING CALCULATIONS

In the calculation process the initial state (high reservoir), the rapid drawdown case, the
slow drawdown case and finally the low water level case will be considered. A safety
analysis will be performed for each of the cases.
• Proceed to the Flow conditions mode.
Create water levels corresponding to the full reservoir and the low water level cases
according to the information given in Table 6.3.
• In the Attributes library of the Model explorer rename the created user water levels
as 'High_Reservoir' and 'Low_Reservoir'.
Table 6.3 Water levels
Level Points
High reservoir (-130 0 25), (-10 0 25), (93 0 -10), (130 0 -10), (130 50 -10), (93 50 -10), (-10 50 25), (-130 50 25)
Low reservoir (-130 0 5), (-10 0 5), (93 0 -10), (130 0 -10), (130 50 -10), (93 50 -10), (-10 50 5), (-130 50 5)

Hint: No modifications, such as Time dependency is possible for Borehole water

levels and non-horizontal User water levels.

6.3.1 INITIAL PHASE: HIGH RESERVOIR

• Proceed to the Staged construction mode.
• Double-click the initial phase in the Phases explorer.
• In the General subtree of the Phases window rename the phase as 'High reservoir'.
Select the Gravity loading option as Calculation type. Note that Staged construction
is the only option available for Loading type.
Select the Steady state groundwater flow option as pore pressure calculation type.
• Note that the options Ignore undr. behaviour (A,B) and Ignore suction are by default
selected in the Deformation control parameters subtree. The default values will be
used for the parameters in the Numerical control parameters and Flow control
parameters subtrees.
• Click OK to close the Phases window.
• In the Staged construction mode activate the soil clusters representing the
embankment.

96 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 3D 2016

 RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

• In the Model explorer expand the Model conditions subtree.

• In the GroundwaterFlow subtree set BoundaryYMin, BoundaryYMax and
BoundaryZMin to Closed. The remaining boundaries should be Open (Figure 6.5).
• In the Water subtree select the high reservoir water level (High_Reservoir) as
GlobalWaterLevel.

Figure 6.5 Boundary conditions for groundwater flow

6.3.2 PHASE 1: RAPID DRAWDOWN

In the rapid drawdown phase the water level in the reservoir will be lowered from z = 25 m
to z = 5 m in a period of 5 days. To define the function describing the fluctuation of the
water level:
Add a new calculation phase
• In the Phases explorer double-click the newly added phase. The Phases window is
displayed.
• In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (e.g. Rapid drawdown).
Set the Calculation type to Fully coupled flow-deformation.
• Set the Time interval to 5 days.
• The Reset displacements to zero option is automatically selected in the Deformation
control parameters subtree.
• Click OK to close the Phases window.
• Expand the Attributes library in the Model explorer.
• Right-click on Flow functions and select the Edit option in the appearing menu. The

PLAXIS 3D 2016 | Tutorial Manual 97

TUTORIAL MANUAL

Flow functions window is displayed.

In the Head functions tabsheet add a new function by clicking the corresponding
button. The new function is highlighted in the list and options to define the function
are displayed.
• Specify a proper name to the function for the rapid drawdown (e.g. Rapid).
• Select the Linear option from the Signal drop-down menu.
• Assign a value of -20 m to ∆ Head, representing the amount of the head decrease.
• Specify a time interval of 5 days. A graph is displayed showing the defined function
(Figure 6.6).
• Click OK to close the Flow functions window.

Figure 6.6 The flow function for the rapid drawdown case

• Activate all the surface groundwater flow boundary conditions.

• Multi-select the surface groundwater flow BCs in the draw area.
• In the Selection explorer select the Head option as behaviour. The distribution of
the head is Uniform. Assign a value of 25 m to href .
• Set the time dependency to Time dependent and select the Rapid option as Head
function. Information related to the head function is displayed in the Object explorers
as well (Figure 6.7).
• In the Water subtree in the Model explorer select the BoreholeWaterLevel_1 option
as GlobalWaterLevel.

6.3.3 PHASE 2: SLOW DRAWDOWN

In the slow drawdown phase the water level in the reservoir will be lowered from z = 25 m
to z = 5 m in a period of 50 days. To define the function describing the fluctuation of the

98 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 3D 2016

 RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

Figure 6.7 Definition of SurfaceGWFlowBC for the rapid drawdown case

water level:
• Select the initial phase (High reservoir) in the Phases explorer.
Add a new calculation phase
• In the Phases explorer double-click the newly added phase. The Phases window is
displayed.
• In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (e.g. Slow drawdown).
Set the Calculation type to Fully coupled flow-deformation.
• Set the Time interval option to 50 days.
• The Reset displacements to zero option is automatically selected in the Deformation
control parameters subtree.
• Click OK to close the Phases window.
• Create a new flow function following the steps previously described.
• Specify a proper name to the function for the slow drawdown (e.g. Slow).
• Select the Linear option from the Signal drop-down menu.
• Assign a value of -20 m to ∆ Head, representing the amount of the head decrease.
• Specify a time interval of 50 days. The window displaying the defined function is
shown in Figure 6.8.
• Activate all the surface groundwater flow boundary conditions and multi-select them
in the draw area.
• In the Selection explorer select the Head option as behaviour. The distribution of
the head is Uniform. Assign a value of 25 m to href .
• Set the time dependency to Time dependent and select the Slow option as Head
function.
• In the Water subtree in the Model explorer select the BoreholeWaterLevel_1 option
as GlobalWaterLevel.

Phase 3: Low level

This phase considers the steady-state situation of a low reservoir level.

PLAXIS 3D 2016 | Tutorial Manual 99

TUTORIAL MANUAL

Figure 6.8 The flow function for the slow drawdown case

• Select the initial phase (High reservoir) in the Phases explorer.

Add a new calculation phase.
• In the Phases explorer double-click the newly added phase. The Phases window is
displayed.
• In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (ex: Low level).
The default calculation type (Plastic) is valid for this phase.
The default Pore pressure calculation type (Steady state groundwater flow) is valid
for this phase.
• In the Deformation control subtree, select Ignore und. behaviour (A,B) and make
sure that the Reset displacements to zero is selected as well.
• Click OK to close the Phases window.
• The surface groundwater flow BCs should be deactivated in the Model explorer.
• In the Water subtree select the low reservoir water level (Low_Reservoir) as
GlobalWaterLevel.

Phase 4 to 7:
In Phases 4 to 7 stability calculations are defined for the previous phases respectively.
• Select Phase_1 in the Phases explorer.
Add a new calculation phase and proceed to the Phases window.
• In the General subtree specify the name of the phase (ex: Rapid drawdown -
Safety).

100 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 3D 2016

 RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

Set Calculation type to Safety. The Incremental multipliers option is valid as Loading
type.
• Select the Reset displacements to zero option in the Deformation control subtree.
• In the Numerical control parameters subtree set the Max steps parameter to 50 for
Phase 4.
• Follow the same procedure for Phases 5 to 7. The final view of the Phases explorer
is given in Figure 6.9.

Figure 6.9 The final view of the Phases explorer

In the Staged construction mode select a node located at the crest (-2.5 25.0 30.0 ).
Start the calculation process.
Save the project when the calculation is finished.

6.4 VIEWING THE RESULTS

After the calculation is finished click the View the calculation results
button. The Output window now shows the deformed mesh for the selected phase.
• In the Stresses menu point the Pore pressures option and select the pwater option
from the appearing menu.
Define a vertical cross section passing through (-130 15) and (130 15)
The results of the four groundwater flow calculations in terms of pore pressure distribution
are shown in Figures 6.10 to 6.13. Four different situations were considered:

Hint: Note that by default the legend is locked in cross section plots, meaning that
the same layer distribution will be used if the cross section is relocated in the
model or if the results are displayed for other phases.
The legend can be unlocked by clicking on the Lock icon under the legend. A
'free' legend is indicated by the Open lock icon.

• The situation with a high (standard) reservoir level (Figure 6.10).

PLAXIS 3D 2016 | Tutorial Manual 101

TUTORIAL MANUAL

• The situation after rapid drawdown of the reservoir level (Figure 6.11).
• The situation after slow drawdown of the reservoir level (Figure 6.12).
• The situation with a low reservoir level (Figure 6.13).
When the change of pore pressure is taken into account in a deformation analysis, some
additional deformation of the dam will occur. These deformations and the effective stress
distribution can be viewed on the basis of the results of phases 1 to 4.
In this tutorial attention is focused on the variation of the safety factor of the dam for the
different situations. Therefore, the development of ΣMsf is plotted for the phases 4 to 7
as a function of the displacement of the dam crest point (see Figure 6.14).

Figure 6.10 Pore water pressure distribution for high reservoir level (Initial phase)

Figure 6.11 Pore water pressure distribution after rapid drawdown (Phase_1)

102 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 3D 2016

 RAPID DRAWDOWN ANALYSIS

Figure 6.12 Pore water pressure distribution after slower drawdown (Phase_2)

Figure 6.13 Pore water pressure distribution for low reservoir level (Phase_3)

Rapid drawdown of a reservoir level can reduce the stability of a dam significantly. Fully
coupled flow-deformation and stability analysis can be performed with PLAXIS 3D to
effectively analyze such situations.

PLAXIS 3D 2016 | Tutorial Manual 103

TUTORIAL MANUAL

Figure 6.14 Safety factors for different situations

104 Tutorial Manual | PLAXIS 3D 2016