CHAPTER 4.

DESIGN OF EARTH DAMS

Table 4.1: Recommend slopes of stabilizing fills for dams on saturated silt
and clay foundations1 .

Average number of blows Foundation Slopes of stabilizing fills

Consistency per foot2 within foundation soil for various heights of dam
depth equal to height of dam group3 15 m 12 m 9m 6m 3m

Soft Less than 4 Special soil tests and analyses required.

SM 4.5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1 3:1

SC 6:1 5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1
ML 6:1 5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1
Medium 4 to 10
CL 6.5:1 5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1
MH 7:1 5.5:1 4.5:1 3.5:1 3:1
CH 13:1 10:1 7:1 4:1 3:1

SM 4:1 3.5:1 3:1 3:1 3:1

SC 5.5:1 4.5:1 3.5:1 3:1 3:1
ML 5.5:1 4.5:1 3.5:1 3:1 3:1
Stiff 11 to 20
CL 6:1 4.5:1 3.5:1 3:1 3:1
MH 6.5:1 5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1
CH 11:1 9:1 6:1 3:1 3:1

SM 3.5:1 3:1 3:1 3:1 3:1

SC 5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1 3:1
ML 5:1 4:1 3.5:1 3:1 3:1
Hard More than 20
CL 5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1 3:1
MH 5.5:1 4:1 3:1 3:1 3:1
CH 10:1 8:1 5.5:1 3:1 3:1
1
Stabilizing fills are not needed when embankment slopes required by tables 4.3 and 4.4 are equal to or
flatter than the slope listed above.
2
Standard penetration test.
3
Unified soil classification system.

Dr. Mohamed Elkholy 73