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Theme C: Calibration and prediction of the rockfill behavior of a 210m CFRD. Formulation and synthesis of the results
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Theme C: Calibration and prediction of the rockfill behavior of a 210m CFRD. Formulation and synthesis of the results
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Theme C: Calibration and prediction of the rockfill behavior of a 210m CFRD. Formulation and synthesis of the results
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Journal Article
Theme C: Calibration and prediction of the rockfill behavior of a 210m CFRD. Formulation and synthesis of the results
2025
Overview
This paper presents the synthesis of Theme C of the 17th ICOLD International Benchmark Workshop on Numerical Analysis of Dams, focused on the calibration and prediction of the behaviour of a 210 m-high Concrete Face Rockfill Dam (CFRD), a major component of the Nam Ngum 3 hydroelectric project in Laos. With increasing dam heights, empirical methods traditionally used in CFRD design are proving insufficient to address complex deformation mechanisms, particularly long-term settlements and concrete face cracking risks. Participants performed predictive simulations using laboratory data, then recalibrated their models based on field measurements of vertical and horizontal displacements. The narrow valley geometry causes stress redistribution, highlighting the necessity of using 3D models to accurately simulate the dam’s behaviour. Results show that lab-derived stiffness parameters systematically overestimate in situ rockfill stiffness, with a scale factor of approximately 1.7 required to match settlement measurements in 3D models using advanced constitutive models (especially Hardening Soil Model). In 2D models, the scale effect is smaller - around 1.4 for the Mohr-Coulomb and LADE models, and 1.1 for HSM - due to a compensation effect linked to the absence of vertical stress reduction in the 2D representation. Creep models enable a better match of long-term settlements, although the modelling approaches varied and may lack predictive accuracy. This benchmark highlights the importance of accounting for both scale effects and creep behaviour in 3D numerical models during the design phase of high rockfill dams and more specifically CFRDs and intends to provide a reference dataset and methodology for future predictive and back-analysis studies.
