Stability Analysis of Embankment Dams

This event qualifies for 21 PDHs

This course provides broad coverage of stability analysis for embankment dams. Topics addressed in the course include soil stress-strain behavior, shear strength selection, field, and laboratory testing methods, slope stability analysis methods, slope stability analysis loading cases, seepage as related to stability analysis, and stability rehabilitation methods. The course includes several exercises to reinforce the information presented in lectures, as well as an optional evening session providing an opportunity for hands-on experience with a commonly used slope stability computer program.

Learning objectives attendees will receive from this course:

An understanding of the importance of slope stability in dam safety, and the basic theoretical principles supporting slope stability analysis methods.
An understanding of the significance of adequate subsurface characterization and shear strength property selection.
An understanding of soil stress-strain behavior and its relationship to shear strength.
An understanding of how to select shear strength parameters from field and laboratory data.
An understanding of slope stability rehabilitation measures.

Speaker and Presenter Information

John W. France, P.E., D.GE, D.WRE
JWF Consulting LLC

Mr. John France is a registered professional engineer who is an individual consultant. He received BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from Cornell University. Mr. France has 44 years of consulting engineering experience, during which time he has worked on hundreds of civil engineering projects. For the past 37 years, his professional career has been focused on dam engineering and dam safety services. During his career, Mr. France has been involved in various capacities in evaluating and remediating slope stability issues for earth dams. He has served on review boards and panels for dam safety projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, BC Hydro, and Brookfield Renewable Energy. In 2017, Mr. France served as the team leader for the independent forensic investigation of the Oroville Dam spillway incident. He has twice received the ASDSO President’s Award for his contributions to dam safety.

John Rice, Ph.D., P.E., G.E.
Utah State University
Associate Professor

John Rice, Ph.D., P.E., G.E. is an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering program at the Utah State University at Logan, Utah. Dr. Rice received his Ph.D. in 2008 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University specializing in geotechnical engineering. He has been a registered geotechnical engineer in California since 1999 and a registered civil engineer in California since 1993. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. Rice worked for more than 16 years as a geotechnical consultant in California, including extensive work on the Sacramento levee system. Dr. Rice’s teaching record at Utah State University includes Seepage, Slope Stability, and Design of Dams and Levees; Ground Improvement; Advanced Shear Strength of Soils; and Foundation Analysis and Design. In 2013, he was awarded the Engineering Educator of the Year Award by the Utah Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Kevin Ritter, P.E.
AECOM
Geotechnical Engineer

Kevin Ritter, P.E. is a registered professional engineer in AECOM's Water Business Unit in Denver, Colorado. He received his BS degree in civil engineering at the University of Michigan and his MS degree in civil engineering with geotechnical focus from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2009. Mr. Ritter has over 10 years of engineering experience in consulting with a focus on material behavior and shear strength characterization, slope stability evaluation, and deformation modeling. He has extensively used limit equilibrium and finite element programs like UTEXAS, SLOPE/W, FLAC and SEEP/W for a wide variety of engineering applications including factor of safety and failure mode analyses, seepage analysis, and dynamic deformation analyses of dams.

Relevant Government Agencies

Army, Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Energy, Dept of Homeland Security, Other Federal Agencies, State Government, County Government, City Government, Municipal Government, FEMA, Federal Government, State & Local Government