Calculation Discussion Rapid Drawdown

Stability Analysis
Problem Definition
The Rapid Drawdown Case is often a critical condition for stability of submerged slopes,
whereby in-situ pore water pressures first equilibrate to hydrostatic levels under steady
state seepage conditions, then upon sudden drawdown of the water adjacent to the
slope, the stabilizing force of the water against the slope is lost and pore water pressures
in low permeability materials within the slope are not able to dissipate. This
phenomenon increases the shear stresses for equilibrium.
This analysis considers a rapid drawdown on the lakeward side of the lake berm from the
Maximum Storage Pool elevation to elevation 388, and a rapid drawdown of prolonged
floodwaters on the riverward side of the lake berm to the base flow elevation in the river
channel. For the Urban/Natural Lake, the riverward side rapid drawdown is from
elevation 403 to elevation 382. For the West Dallas Lake, the riverward side rapid
drawdown is from elevation 405 to elevation 387. This analysis is considered to be
appropriate in its consideration of the possibility of a sudden drawdown of water in the
Urban/Natural or West Dallas Lakes, and is considered to be very conservative for the
riverward side of the lake berm due to the unlikely possibility that the low-permeability
material of the embankment will become fully saturated during a relatively brief flood
event.
Analysis Geometry
The embankment geometry analyzed is an assumed maximum section with a minimum
allowable crest width (20 feet for the Urban/Natural lake and 44 feet for the West Dallas
Lake). In most cases, the embankment is expected to be wider (and perhaps much
wider) than the section analyzed. The geometry of erosion control and slope retention
concepts reflects those shown in the drawing set for the corresponding embankment
options (A, B, C, or D). The subsurface profile shown conservatively considers the entire
subsurface to be the upper clay unit as defined by Fugro in the Geotechnical Data Report
(Fugro, 2009). This neglects the presence of the flaggy zone, basal sands, and eagle ford
shale/Austin chalk formations, all of which have been found to exhibit higher strength
than the upper clay unit. Interior slopes for the lakes are 3H:1V for all proposed lakes, a
recompacted clay liner 18 thick is applied for uniform seepage control.
Option A
Option A involves river-side slopes 4H:1V or flatter with vegetative cover for erosion
protection. This option is not applicable to the Urban/Natural lake berm, but is expected
to be used frequently on the West Dallas Lake.
Option B
Option B involves erosion protection of river-side slopes 4H:1V or flatter, protected by
articulated concrete block or soil cement with a gravel filter. This option is expected to
be used frequently for the Urban/Natural.
Option C
Option C involves oversteepened slopes steeper than 3H:1V where tiered retaining walls are
needed to conform to the desired geometry. These retaining walls will need to be tied
back with grouted soil anchors (described below). This option is expected to be used for
both the Urban/Natural lakes and the West Dallas Lake.
Option D
Option D involves river-side slopes 3H:1V or flatter that have an architectural treatment
with stone slabs or boulders. These stone slabs provide erosion protection for the slope
and improve stability. This option is expected to be used only on the Urban/Natural
Lakes.
Soil Strength
Effective and Total stress strengths were used to develop strength parameters for use in
accordance with the Duncan and Wright (1990) three-stage analysis of Rapid Drawdown
for the Upper Clay Unit and for the Compacted Clay Fill/Liner soils. Strength
parameters for these materials were interpreted from the results of Isotropically
Consolidated Undrained triaxial strength tests with pore pressure measurements (ICU-
bar tests). These ICU-bar tests were performed on relatively undisturbed Shelby Tube
samples to characterize the Upper Clay Unit, and performed on remolded samples
compacted to 98% of ASTM D 698 at the optimum water content for the Compacted
Clay Fill/Liner soils.
Drained soil strengths are used in this analysis to represent the strength of materials which
are expected to freely drain during drawdown scenarios. These materials include the
riprap, topsoil, and the Articulating Concrete Block/soil cement/gravel filter materials.
Alluvial Overbank Deposits
It is assumed that the alluvial overbank deposits (as described in the Geotechnical Data
Report by Fugro, 2009) will generally be removed beneath the embankment prism and
replaced with compacted clay fill. The extents of this fill are indicated on the analysis
cross-sections, and are expected to represent a conservative estimate. Where unsuitable
soils are encountered, it is assumed that they will be overexcavated and replaced with
compacted clay fill.
Upper Clay Unit
Both drained (effective stress) and undrained (total stress) shear strengths for the upper clay
unit (embankment foundation material) were estimated using the results of ICU-bar
tests performed on relatively undisturbed Shelby tube samples. These results were used
to develop a bilinear strength envelope for analysis as recommended by the Duncan and
Wright (1990) three-stage slope stability procedure. Additional discussion regarding the
development of the bilinear envelope and incorporation of the three-stage procedure
into stability analysis discussions is presented in Chapter 4 of the Geotechnical Report.
As mentioned previously, the upper clay unit was conservatively considered to be the only
foundation material beneath the embankment, neglecting the Flaggy Zone, Basal Sands,
and bedrockall of which are anticipated to have a higher undrained strength.
Compacted Clay Fill/Liner
Both drained (effective stress) and undrained (total stress) shear strengths for the compacted
clay embankment and liner were estimated the results of ICU-bar tests performed on
remolded specimens compacted to 98% of ASTM D 698 at the optimum water content.
These results were used to develop a bilinear strength envelope for analysis as
recommended by the Duncan and Wright (1990) three-stage slope stability procedure.
Additional discussion regarding the development of the bilinear envelope and
incorporation of the three-stage procedure into stability analysis discussions is presented
in Chapter 4 of the Geotechnical Report.
Riprap
The riprap material is assumed to exhibit drained behavior during drawdown. Drained
(effective stress) strengths for the riprap were estimated from experience with typical
values for similar material. A specific riprap source and gradation have not been
identified at this time.
Topsoil
The strength of the topsoil material placed on top of the embankment is not expected to
greatly impact the stability of the embankment. This material is currently not well
defined, but is assumed to exhibit drained behavior under this loading condition. The
topsoil placed in planters covering the top of the embankment were conservatively
assumed to have a low strength. Specific information about the type of material used for
the topsoil is not available at this time. These strengths were assumed, and are
considered to be conservative.
Articulated Concrete Block/Soil Cement/Gravel Filter
The Articulated Concrete Block (ACB), soil cement, and gravel filter materials are assumed
to exhibit drained behavior under this loading condition. Drained (effective stress)
strengths for the ACB, soil cement, and gravel filter material are conservatively
considered to behave as a single cohesionless material with an angle of internal friction
() of 35 degrees.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls, where used, are assumed to be proportioned according to the
recommended lateral earth pressures given in the corresponding calculation package.
Internal stability (sliding, overturning, bearing capacity, etc) of these structures has not
been addressed by this calculation. Global stability is, however, addressed by these
calculation results.
Soil Anchors
Grouted soil anchors are required for the proposed Option C, where oversteepened slopes
must be retained due to space constraints. Grouted soil anchors are estimated to develop
capacity equal to 900 pounds-force per linear foot based on the recommendations of the
Post Tensioning Institute (PTI) for the materials encountered on site. The estimated
length required for global stability of the Option C downstream slope is approximately
62 feet per anchor. For stability, spacing of these anchors was found to be 4 feet
laterally, with one row of anchors required for each tier (NOTE: 4 tiers for Option C,
typ.). The specific details of this configuration are subject to change. Details of the
internal retaining wall design will be addressed during subsequent levels of design.
Global stability is confirmed by these calculation results.
Stone Slabs
Stone slabs, where used for the proposed Option D, are conservatively assumed to have
drained (effective stress) shear strength approximately equal to that of the riprap layer.
The exact nature of the slabs is not known at this time, but their size is expected to be
massive, and use of riprap strength is assumed to be conservative.
Analysis Details
The UTEXAS3 computer program (Shinoak Software, 1991) was used to evaluate the
stability of the riverward side and lake side stability under rapid drawdown conditions
for Options A, B, and D. This program executes the Duncan and Wright (1990) method
of determining shear strength for drawdown. Spencers (1967) method was
implemented within the program to perform the limit equilibrium analysis. Extensive
details describing the nature of the analysis are presented in Chapter 4 of the
Geotechnical Report.
The SLIDE v5.03 (Rocscience, 2007) two-dimensional limit-equilibrium computer program
was used to perform stability analyses Option C of the proposed sections. SLIDE utilizes
the B-bar effective stress method as a means of evaluating slope stability following rapid
drawdown. SLIDE was utilized because the UTEXAS3 computer program was not able
to consider the tieback anchors in the analysis. Spencers method was used within SLIDE
as a means of considering total force equilibrium between slices.
The phreatic surface through the embankment was manually approximated to duplicate the
results seen in previous finite element analyses. Values of hydraulic conductivity and
boundary conditions used are discussed in the Seepage Analysis Memo.
Analysis Results
The results of this analysis were found to be acceptable, even with the low strengths
assumed for the upper clay unit and the compacted clay.
Lake Berm:
Slope stabilization
option:
Upstream or
Downstream
Slope* Factor of Safety
Urban/Natural Opt. B US 1.41
Urban/Natural Opt. B DS 1.37
Urban/Natural Opt. D US 1.41
Urban/Natural Opt. D DS 1.22
Urban/Natural Opt. C US 1.29
Urban/Natural Opt. C DS 1.18
West Dallas Opt. A US 1.28
West Dallas Opt. A DS 1.32
* "Upstream (US) slope considered to be the lake side, Downstream (DS) slope considered to be the river
side.
** Analysis not yet performed.