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<p>This study evaluates the transient seepage and slope stability response of the Yamchi earth-fill dam in northwestern Iran under four reservoir drawdown rates (0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 1.20&#xa0;m/day) using coupled finite element seepage and limit equilibrium analyses in GeoStudio (SEEP/W and SLOPE/W). The modeling accounted for unsaturated flow behavior, matric suction, and time-dependent boundary conditions to simulate rapid reservoir depletion. Results indicate that seepage discharges decreased from 1.08 × 10⁻<sup>5</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/s/m to 5.45 × 10⁻<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/s/m (slowest drawdown) and 1.91 × 10⁻<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/s/m (fastest drawdown), remaining at least an order of magnitude below international safety thresholds. Exit hydraulic gradients declined from ~ 0.336 to ≤ 0.014, consistently below both the commonly accepted safe range (0.25–0.30) and the critical instability threshold (~ 0.8). Slope stability analysis revealed a temporary reduction in factors of safety (FoS) during early drawdown, with minima of ~ 1.91–1.94, followed by recovery as suction developed in the upstream shell. Across all scenarios, FoS exceeded USACE-recommended limits, confirming the dam’s robustness under both slow and rapid depletion. The findings underscore the crucial role of unsaturated flow and matric suction in preserving hydraulic performance and slope stability during rapid drawdown. Although three-dimensional effects, parameter uncertainty, and seismic loading were not considered, the detailed coupled SEEP/W–SLOPE/W approach applied to the Yamchi Dam in this study can be readily adopted as a practical basis for future probabilistic and multi-hazard assessments of embankment dams, supporting safer and more reliable design and operation practices.</p>

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Hydro-Mechanical Response of an Earth-Fill Dam During Rapid Reservoir Drawdown Using Coupled Seepage and Stability Analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月4日

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  • Amir Ghaderi,
  • Fateme Nazari,
  • Hossein Mohammadnezhad

摘要

This study evaluates the transient seepage and slope stability response of the Yamchi earth-fill dam in northwestern Iran under four reservoir drawdown rates (0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 1.20 m/day) using coupled finite element seepage and limit equilibrium analyses in GeoStudio (SEEP/W and SLOPE/W). The modeling accounted for unsaturated flow behavior, matric suction, and time-dependent boundary conditions to simulate rapid reservoir depletion. Results indicate that seepage discharges decreased from 1.08 × 10⁻5 m3/s/m to 5.45 × 10⁻6 m3/s/m (slowest drawdown) and 1.91 × 10⁻6 m3/s/m (fastest drawdown), remaining at least an order of magnitude below international safety thresholds. Exit hydraulic gradients declined from ~ 0.336 to ≤ 0.014, consistently below both the commonly accepted safe range (0.25–0.30) and the critical instability threshold (~ 0.8). Slope stability analysis revealed a temporary reduction in factors of safety (FoS) during early drawdown, with minima of ~ 1.91–1.94, followed by recovery as suction developed in the upstream shell. Across all scenarios, FoS exceeded USACE-recommended limits, confirming the dam’s robustness under both slow and rapid depletion. The findings underscore the crucial role of unsaturated flow and matric suction in preserving hydraulic performance and slope stability during rapid drawdown. Although three-dimensional effects, parameter uncertainty, and seismic loading were not considered, the detailed coupled SEEP/W–SLOPE/W approach applied to the Yamchi Dam in this study can be readily adopted as a practical basis for future probabilistic and multi-hazard assessments of embankment dams, supporting safer and more reliable design and operation practices.