Civil and Project journal

Numerical Analysis of Blast-Induced Deformation and Stability in Earthen Dams: A Case Study of Alavian Dam, Maragheh, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/cpj.2025.542150.1393
Volume 7, Issue 9 - Serial Number 79
December 2025
Pages 39-62
Civil and Project journal

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Mohammad mehdi Ahmadi 1
Babak Alinejad 2
Hamzeh Ahmadi 3

1 MS in Water and Hydraulic Structural Engineering, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

2 Assisstant Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran.

Abstract
Explosive events generate sudden shockwaves, dynamic pressure, and tensile forces that propagate through structures, posing critical risks to dam integrity. While historical incidents highlight the vulnerability of dams to explosive attacks, existing research predominantly focuses on concrete dams, with limited attention to earthen dams—despite their global prevalence, particularly in regions like Iran. This study addresses this gap by conducting a comprehensive numerical investigation of blast-induced deformation and stability in earthen dams using Abaqus/Explicit finite element software. A three-dimensional nonlinear dynamic model of the Alavian Dam in Maragheh, Iran, was developed to simulate surface explosions (500, 1000, and 1500 kg TNT equivalents) over a 2-second duration, accounting for soil-structure interaction and shockwave propagation through heterogeneous media (soil, water, and air). Key findings reveal significant mesh sensitivity in the simulations, emphasizing the necessity of refined meshing near the blast epicenter. Deformation patterns exhibited a direct correlation with explosive mass, peaking at the dam’s crown (maximum displacement: 1.2 m for 1500 kg) and diminishing toward the toe (0.3 m). The results underscore the critical role of localized material plasticity and energy dissipation mechanisms in mitigating blast effects. These insights provide actionable guidelines for enhancing blast resistance in earthen dam design, including optimized geometry, reinforcement strategies, and sensor placement for early threat detection. This work establishes a benchmark for future studies on geostructural resilience under extreme dynamic loading.

Keywords

Blast-induced loading
Nonlinear dynamic response
Coupled Lagrangian-Eulerian (CEL) analysis
Earthen dam stability
Finite element modeling (FEM)
Subjects
Ambrosini, R. D., & Luccioni, B. M. (2006). Craters produced by explosions on the soil surface.
Chowdhury, I., & Dasgupta, S. P. (2019). Dynamic Analysis of Earth Dams Under Earthquakes. In
Earthquake Analysis and Design of Industrial Structures and Infra-structures (pp. 369-404). Springer,
Cham.
Clough, R. W., & Penzien, J. Dynamics of Structures (1975). Journal of Structures, New York,
McGraw-Hill Companies.
Cole, R. H. (1948). Underwater explosions. New Jersey: Princeton Publications Inc.
Contestabile, Li.Y.,E, Braimah, A. and Wilson, D., (2007). Preliminary Vulnerability of an
Embankment Dam due to Explosions, CERL Report.
Cormie, D., Mays, G., & Smith, P. (Eds). (2009). Blast effects on buildings. Thomas Telford
Publishing.
De A., Butler S., Zimmie T.F., (2013). Effects of Surface Explosions on top of Earth Embankment,
Dams, Geocongress 2013; ASCE 2013.
Engineers, U. (2008). UFC 3-340-02: Structures to Resist the Effects of Explosions. UDo Defense,
Editor.
George A. Afriyie. (2014). Effects of explosions on embankment dams.
Guan, Z., Deng, T., & Li, Y. (2022). Discrete element modeling of crater formation and soil ejection
in earth dams subjected to surface explosions. Computers and Geotechnics, 145, 104671.
Henrych, J. (1979). The dynamics of Explosion and Its Use, Elsevier press, Amsterdam.
Iau-Teh Wang, “Numerical and Experimental Approach for Failure Analysis of Soil
Kardan, N., Soltani-Jigheh, H., Saeeidi Farzad, B., & Shokri, R. (2021). Two-Dimensional
Numerical Analysis of Alavian Earth Dam under Dynamic Loading. Iranian journal of Marine
technology.(1400)
Kardan, N., Soltani-Jigheh, H., Saeeidi Farzad, B., & Shokri, R. (2021). Two-Dimensional
Numerical Analysis of Alavian Earth Dam under Dynamic Loading. Darya-fonoun Journal, 8 (Issue).
Keil, A. H. (1961). The response of ships to underwater explosions. DAVID TAYLOR MODEL
BASIN WASHINGTON DC.
Kinney, G. F., & Graham, K. I. (1985). Explosive Shocks in air, Poringer–Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
New York Tokyo.
Koneshloo, M., & Vafaeian, M. (2021). Coupled analysis of pore water pressure generation and
structural response in earth dams under blast loading. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 142,
106549.
Li, X., Wang, G., & Zhang, F. (2018). Numerical simulation of the dynamic response of earth dams
subjected to surface explosion using the SPH method. Engineering Structures, 165, 165-178.
Mazaheri, A. R., Zeinolebadi Rozbahani, M., & Beiranvand, B. (2020). Quasi-Static and Dynamic
Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Displacements in Earth Dams (Case Study: Azadi Earth Dam).
Journal of civil Engineering and Materials Application, 4(4), 223-232.
Ngo, T., Mendis, P., Gupta, A., & Ramsay, J. (2007). Blast loading and blast effects on structures–
an overview. Electronic Journal of Structural Engineering, 7(S1), 76-91.
Rajendran, R., & Lee, J. M. (2009). Blast loaded plates. Marine Structures, 22(2), 99-127.
Sherard, J. L., Woodward, R. J., Gizienski, S. F., & Clevenger, W. A. (1967). Earth and earth-rock
dams.
Civil and Project Journal, 2025, 7(9), 39-62
https://doi.org/10.22034/cpj.2025.542150.1393
62
Subjected to Surface Explosion Loading, Shock and Vibration, Article ID 4981507, 2021.
TM 5-855-1, Fundemental of Protective design for conventional weapon, (1986). Washington:
department of army technical manual.
Wang, C., Chen, W., & Hao, H. (2020). Effects of subsurface explosion on the stability of earth
embankments: A parametric study. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 140, 103542.
Wang, Z., Lu, Y., & Bai, C. (2011). Numerical simulation of explosion-induced soil liquefaction and
its effect on surface structures. Finite elements in analysis and design, 47(9), 1079-1090.
Zamyshlyayev. B. V., Y. S. Yakovlev. (1973). Dynamic Loads in Underwater Explosion, Naval.
Zhang, Z, Wang, G, Wang, C, Pang, B. (2014), Numerical simulation of failure modes of concrete
gravity dams subjected to underwater explosion. Engineering Failure Analysis.
Zheng, J., & Tannant, D. D. (2023). Numerical modelling of blast effects on geotechnical structures:
Recent advances and future trends. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 131, 104827.
  • Receive Date 19 July 2025
  • Revise Date 24 August 2025
  • Accept Date 30 August 2025
  • First Publish Date 30 August 2025
  • Publish Date 22 November 2025

Home

Submit

Contact Us

Forthcoming Articles