numerical methods and modeling for dams

[georam]

To obtain stresses and strains in a dam foundation, as a dam is being constructed and the water is impounded afterwards, what is the most appropriate software available in the market today to carry out such a modeling analysis?
Is FLAC the software of choice for solving geomechanics problems? Or are there other softwares (FEM or FDM) which are more applicable for the soil/bedrock continuum?

 

[CSAPL]

Both Rockscience products & Geoslope products :friendly, clear to use , uncomplicated, and affordable and can do you the job.

 

[Wtong]

I would recommend SIGMA/W by GEP.SLOPE of Calgary, Alberta who also developes SLOPE/W (slope stability) and SEEP/W (seepage analysis). These are Window based softwares with CAD like features and they complement each other. Once you have set the dam geometry, you can use it in all three programs. You can run SEEP/W to determine the seepage pressures within a dam core during the steady state and then plug these pressures back to SIGMA/W for stress/deformation analysis. I have used these softwares to evaluate the performace of the core of a 200 m high dam in Canada.