ABSTRACT
This study examines the effective utilization of quarry waste as an alternative shell material for the construction of embankment dams, addressing the challenge of sourcing appropriate traditional materials from borrow pits. Quarry waste often burdens the environment when dumped in landfills. The high friction angle and favorable permeability of quarry waste suggest its viability as a robust shell material for earthen dams. A comprehensive seismic analysis using finite element simulations evaluates the performance of dams with quarry waste shells under two hazard level. The study reveals that maximum vertical settlement at the crest 0.5 m while, maximum horizontal displacement 1.1 m occurs at downstream side of dam under the maximum credible earthquake. The acceleration amplification at the crest ranges from 2.07 to 4.05. The findings offer a dual benefit, improving the sustainability of dam construction by reducing the reliance on conventional borrowed materials and decreasing environmental waste from quarries.
