AGI, in partnership with the CDA, presents the

2025-2026 Technical Webinar Series

Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics for Earthfill Dam Design | Part 2: Basic Design Cross-Sections and Geotechnical Design Approaches

April 8   |   10:00AM - 12:00PM MT   |  Webinar

 

Earthfill dams are constructed of and founded on natural ground with inherent variability and uncertainty.
Soil mechanics fundamentals during design are key to effectively manage geotechnical risks. This two-part webinar aims to serve as a refresher for geotechnical engineers and an introduction to professionals practicing within other engineering disciplines on the application of basic soil mechanics in earthfill dam design and dam safety.


With over 48 years experience as a geotechnical engineer, Dennis Becker will use case studies from the
Canadian Prairies as examples of design issues and share his lessons learned.

This webinar will discuss:

  • functional diagrams and intended function of typical dam embankment cross-sections
  • seepage analysis
  • basic seepage control and drainage considerations
  • slope stability analysis
  • earth pressure and hydraulic fracture
  • design considerations for filters and other seepage control elements for managing internal erosion (piping)
  • and geotechnical design approaches for managing geotechnical risk, including traditional precautionary design, reliability-based design, and performance-based design

Language: English

Member: $0.00  

Non-member: $0.00  with option to provide a donation to the CDA Scholarship Fund 

REGISTER HERE

Presenters

Dennis E. Becker
Ph. D., P.Eng., FEIC, FCAE
2024 CDA Inge Anderson Award of Merit Recipient

Dennis Becker, Ph.D., FEIC, FCAE, P.Eng. is a Fellow Geotechnical
Engineer in WSP, with 48 years of geotechnical engineering experience, including earthfill water retention and tailings dams; dam safety reviews; dam safety risk assessments; and Engineer-of-
Record. He is a member of nine independent Geotechnical Review Boards for dams in Canada, United States and Finland.

Dennis was President of the Canadian Geotechnical Society, Editor of the Canadian Geotechnical Journal and Co-Editor of the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual. He received senior awards from the Canadian Geotechnical Society, Canadian Dam Association, Engineering Institute of Canada, and Canadian Society of Civil Engineers.