Sliding facing of fill dams

Conclusions

• 1. A sliding transition makes it possible to transmit the entire horizontal pressure of the upper pool to the downstream shoulder of the fill dam. The use of a bitumen coating on fibreglass fabric as a sliding elements provides complete impermeability of the sliding joint.

• 2. Deviation from a linear distribution of the passive earth pressure of the downstream shoulder on the vertical face of the diaphragm and facing remains unclear in a calculation respect, although room for these deviations is small. For a rigid facing these deviations do not have significance, for a diaphragm they can affects its design.

• 3. The profile of a fill dam with a vertical concrete facing having a sliding transition shown in Fig. 1 is the results of the design studies. This profile can be recommended with confidence as the initial one for further designing. With respect to the design of the diaphragm, there is nothing concrete at present.

• 4. It is desirable that design organizations whose designs of hydrostations have still not been approved prepare also alternative variants of dams with facings.