CHEN Zuyu, YAO Shuanxi, LU Xi, YUAN Youren and LI Kangping

Abstract: The current design specification for roller earth-rock fill dams is only applicable to the stability analysis of dam with a height of less than 200m. Based on the current specification, this paper studies the safety factor standards under the normal and seismic conditions for earth and rockfill dams with super height by combining historical experience model and reliability analysis. It has been proved that the safety factor standard of the super height dams should be set between 1.60 and 1.65 in normal conditions and between 1.30 and 1.35 in seismic conditions. Combined with 12 super height dams under construction or being built in China, the feasibility of the above safety criteria is verified. These safety criteria can provide reference and improvement for the revision of the new specifications.

Key words: super height dam; safety factor; reliability analysis; safety criterion