Incremental permanent deformation from repeated heavy vehicle loads on embankment dams: Field measurements

ABSTRACT: Embankment dams are not typically designed for heavy vehicle traffic on their crests. Nevertheless, the demand for such use is growing, particularly from electricity producers, mining, and forestry industries. Establishing traffic lane on the dam crests would ensure accessibility to the structures and surrounding territories. Progressive damage associated with vehicle traffic is likely to affect dyke and dam performance and therefore raises certain concerns among dam owners and operators. They could benefit from tools and experimental data to improve understanding and characterize the dam's mechanical response when subjected to passing of heavy vehicles. This tool aims to offer guidance in making informed decisions regarding heavy vehicle traffic on a dam’s crest, given uncertainties associated with these unconsidered solicitations. A dyke located in eastern Quebec has been instrumented to register stress states and deformations caused by a heavy vehicle simulator. This paper presents the evolution of permanent deformation and stress states of an embankment dyke core subjected to a high number of heavy load cycles. Field measurements allow quantifying the magnitude of damage and impact of load repetitions on the core of dams.