This study conducted slope and seepage stability analysis of a rock fill dam by comparing the clay core geometry. The core geometry in this study has been changed from a vertical to an inclined arrangement, and all analyses have been conducted are compared with the original design. The geometry of the inclined clay core dam was fixed and checked for static loading conditions. The analysis has been conducted using numerical modeling software called GEO-Studio 2012. Based on calculations, the flux through the dam with an inclined clay core is 0.0057 m3/sec, while the flux from the original dam with a vertical core is 0.0073 m3/sec. The safety factors for the downstream slope during steady state, sudden drawdown, end of construction, and the construction stage are 1.72, 1.56, 1.53, 1.64, and 1.59, respectively. These values were obtained from the original dam design with a vertical clay core, and the corresponding safety factors are 1.63, 1.54, 1.63, and 1.57, respectively. Therefore, the geometry of the clay core is considered safe based on the allowable limit factor of safety and seepage. In addition to this, the inclined clay core section was found to be significantly more Economical compared to the vertical clay core.
| Published in | American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 12, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11 |
| Page(s) | 1-12 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Embankment, Stability Analysis, Awash Dam, Material Properties, Clays, Cores
| [1] | Assefa, Eleyas, Li Jian Lin, Costas I. Sachpazis, Deng Hua Feng, Sun Xu Shu, and Anthimos S. Anastasiadis. 2016. “Probabilistic Slope Stability Evaluation for the New Railway Embankment in Ethiopia.” Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 21(11): 4247-72. |
| [2] | Baye, Melese. 2020. “Construction Quality Control of the Dam, a Case of Kesem Dam (Ethiopia),” no. June. |
| [3] | Berhe, Tensay G. 2010. “Effect of Canyon Geometry and Ground Conditions on the Seismic Performance of Tendaho Earthfill Dam in Ethiopia.,” no. 4: 1-12. |
| [4] | Biswas, Asit K. 1968. “Discussion of ‘Influences on Selection of the Type of Dam.’” Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division 94(2): 576-78. |
| [5] | Chen, Bo, Li Zhang, Qiupei Qian, Yanhong Dou, and Zhuohao Ji. 2017. “Research on the Seepage Safety Monitoring Indexes of the High Core Rockfill Dam.” World Journal of Engineering and Technology 5(3): 42-53. |
| [6] | Duncan, J. M., Stephen G Wright, and Brandon Thomas L. 2014. “Soil Strength and Slope Stability.” John Wiley & Sons 2(1): 37-72. |
| [7] | Farzampour, Armin. 2014. “Optimum Size for Clay Core of Alavian Earth Dam by Numerical Simulation.” Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment 5(3): 0-6. |
| [8] | Gemeda, Desta. 2020. “The Alternative Design of Gidabo Embankment Dam by Introducing Asphalt Concrete Core: Southern Ethiopia.” International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research 11(3): 1158-75. |
| [9] |
GEO-SLOPE International Ltd. 2012. “Stability Modeling with Slope/W.” Stability Modeling with Slope/W, no. June: 213.
http://www.eng.uwo.ca/people/tnewson/Lectures/SLOPEW Engineering Book.pdf |
| [10] | Griffiths, D V. 2015. “Slope Stability Analysis by Finite Elements: A Guide to the Use of Program slope64.” Geomechanics Research Center, Colorado School of Mines, no. September: 1-32. |
| [11] | Hasani, H., J. Mamizadeh, and H. Karimi. 2013. “Stability of Slope and Seepage Analysis in Earth Fills Dams Using Numerical Models (Case Study: Ilam DAM-Iran).” World Applied Sciences Journal 21(9): 1398-1402. |
| [12] | Khanna, Rajesh, Manoj Datta, and G. V. Ramana. 2014. “Influence of Inclination of Thin Core on Stability of Upstream Slope of Earth and Rockfill Dams.” Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering 19 U: 6293-6305. |
| [13] | Kutzner, Christian. 2018. “Earth and Rockfill Dams: Principles for Design and Construction.” Earth and Rockfill Dams: Principles for Design and Construction. |
| [14] | Li, Changwen, Huabin Gao, Zhaoming Xu, and Yan Huang. 2021. “Sensitivity Analysis of Rock-Fill Dam Break Flood on Different Dam Break Durations.” Open Journal of Safety Science and Technology 11(3): 89-103. |
| [15] | López-Querol, S., and P. J. M. Moreta. 2008. “Performance of Heterogeneous Earthfill Dams under Earthquakes: Optimal Location of the Impervious Core.” Natural Hazards and Earth System Science 8(1): 9-18. |
| [16] | Mulat, Asegdew G., and Semu A. Moges. 2014. “Assessment of the Impact of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Performance of the High Aswan Dam.” Journal of Water Resource and Protection 6(6): 583-98. |
| [17] | Nayebzadeh, R., and M. Mohammadi. 2011. “The Effect of Impervious Clay Core Shape on the Stability of Embankment Dams.” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 29(4): 627-35. |
| [18] | Njiru, Fausta Mbura, and David N Siriba. 2018. “Site Selection for an Earth Dam in Mbeere,” 113-33. |
| [19] | Rashidi, Mohammad, and S Mohsen Haeri. 2017. “Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Evaluation of Behaviors of Earth and Rock Fi Ll Dams during Construction and Initial Impounding Using Instrumentation Data and Numerical Modeling.” Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 9(4): 709-25. |
| [20] | Sandra, Dra, Elizondo Argueta, Niels H Wacher, Mara Silva, Leticia Valdez, Miguel Cruz, Rita A Gómez-Díaz, et al. 2016. “No Analysis of the co-dispersion structure of health-related indicators, the center of the subject's sense of health, and the elderly people living at home. Title.” Revista CENIC. Ciencias Biológicas 152 (3): 28. |
| [21] | SEEP/W. 2012. “Seepage Modeling with SEEP / W.” GEO-SLOPE International Ltd., no. July: 1-199. |
| [22] | Tadesse, Abebe Arega, and Bikila Teklu. 1999. “School of Graduate Studies Construction Quality Monitoring of Embankment Dams Using Pore Water Pressure, the Case of Kesem Dam Approved By Board of Examiners.” |
| [23] | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2003. “Engineering and Design, Slope Stability, Engineer Manual.” US Army Corps of Engineers, EM 1110-2-1902. |
APA Style
Kishe, C. R. (2026). Comparison of Stability Analysis of Rockfill Dams with Vertical and Inclined Clay Cores: A Case Study of the Middle Awash Dam, Ethiopia. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 12(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11
ACS Style
Kishe, C. R. Comparison of Stability Analysis of Rockfill Dams with Vertical and Inclined Clay Cores: A Case Study of the Middle Awash Dam, Ethiopia. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2026, 12(1), 1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11
AMA Style
Kishe CR. Comparison of Stability Analysis of Rockfill Dams with Vertical and Inclined Clay Cores: A Case Study of the Middle Awash Dam, Ethiopia. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2026;12(1):1-12. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11,
author = {Chimdesa Regasa Kishe},
title = {Comparison of Stability Analysis of Rockfill Dams with Vertical and Inclined Clay Cores: A Case Study of the Middle Awash Dam, Ethiopia},
journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {1-12},
doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20261201.11},
abstract = {This study conducted slope and seepage stability analysis of a rock fill dam by comparing the clay core geometry. The core geometry in this study has been changed from a vertical to an inclined arrangement, and all analyses have been conducted are compared with the original design. The geometry of the inclined clay core dam was fixed and checked for static loading conditions. The analysis has been conducted using numerical modeling software called GEO-Studio 2012. Based on calculations, the flux through the dam with an inclined clay core is 0.0057 m3/sec, while the flux from the original dam with a vertical core is 0.0073 m3/sec. The safety factors for the downstream slope during steady state, sudden drawdown, end of construction, and the construction stage are 1.72, 1.56, 1.53, 1.64, and 1.59, respectively. These values were obtained from the original dam design with a vertical clay core, and the corresponding safety factors are 1.63, 1.54, 1.63, and 1.57, respectively. Therefore, the geometry of the clay core is considered safe based on the allowable limit factor of safety and seepage. In addition to this, the inclined clay core section was found to be significantly more Economical compared to the vertical clay core.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Comparison of Stability Analysis of Rockfill Dams with Vertical and Inclined Clay Cores: A Case Study of the Middle Awash Dam, Ethiopia AU - Chimdesa Regasa Kishe Y1 - 2026/02/27 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11 DO - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11 T2 - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering JF - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering JO - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-1875 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20261201.11 AB - This study conducted slope and seepage stability analysis of a rock fill dam by comparing the clay core geometry. The core geometry in this study has been changed from a vertical to an inclined arrangement, and all analyses have been conducted are compared with the original design. The geometry of the inclined clay core dam was fixed and checked for static loading conditions. The analysis has been conducted using numerical modeling software called GEO-Studio 2012. Based on calculations, the flux through the dam with an inclined clay core is 0.0057 m3/sec, while the flux from the original dam with a vertical core is 0.0073 m3/sec. The safety factors for the downstream slope during steady state, sudden drawdown, end of construction, and the construction stage are 1.72, 1.56, 1.53, 1.64, and 1.59, respectively. These values were obtained from the original dam design with a vertical clay core, and the corresponding safety factors are 1.63, 1.54, 1.63, and 1.57, respectively. Therefore, the geometry of the clay core is considered safe based on the allowable limit factor of safety and seepage. In addition to this, the inclined clay core section was found to be significantly more Economical compared to the vertical clay core. VL - 12 IS - 1 ER -
College of Engineering and Technology, Wolkite, Ethiopia
Information