Advances in equipment and tools implemented for geotechnics have been allowing design to be supported by numerical simulations. However, even with sophisticated resources, the dam geotechnical engineering industry still lacks few information on laboratory parameters as in the case of Concrete Face Rockfill Dams (CFRD). It is necessary to simplify the us...

Rockfill behavior is dominated by particle breakage, a phenomenon which is analyzed from the perspective offered by the subcritical propagation of cracks within individual particles. Propagation velocity depends on stress concentration in particles as well as on the ambient Relative Humidity (RH). RH controlled oedometer and triaxial tests are reviewed ...

For concrete face rockfill dams, the behaviour of the concrete slab which provides the watertightness of the dam is a major concern. The deformation of the dam embankment during construction and operation leads to concrete slab
deformation. This deformation should be compatible with the structural integrity of the concrete slab. This paper p...

The occurrence of a 5.9 magnitude earthquake, in February 2007, that affected two rockfill dams in Portugal, led to a study presented in this paper about the structural performance of rockfill dams under earthquake influence. Taking into account the world knowledge it can be concluded that the dynamic actions have mainly produced some displacements, and...