COST-EFFECTIVE AND RISK-INFORMED DYKE DESIGN FOR BARRAGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: A PARAMETRIC SLOPE STABILITY AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS

Abstract

Large barrage and flood-control projects require dyke designs that are safe, practical to construct, and affordable under changing hydraulic and geotechnical conditions. Failure of a dyke can cause flooding, infrastructure damage, disruption of agricultural activities, and major economic losses. Although dyke stability is mainly a geotechnical issue, it is also important for construction project management because soil properties and dyke geometry affect construction quantities, cost, risk, and long-term performance. This study evaluates the stability of the proposed Sindh Barrage Project in Pakistan using a parametric slope-stability approach. The effects of soil unit weight, cohesion, and internal friction angle on the factor of safety (FOS) were examined using five limit-equilibrium methods: Ordinary, Janbu, Bishop, Spencer, and Morgenstern–Price. The results show that increasing soil unit weight reduces the FOS, while higher soil cohesion significantly improves slope stability. An increase in the internal friction angle also improves stability. The findings demonstrate the importance of linking geotechnical safety with construction planning, material quality, cost, and risk management. For the investigated 2:1 slope configuration, careful control of critical soil properties is important for maintaining adequate stability. The study provides a practical decision-support approach for project managers involved in the design and construction of large-scale barrage and flood-control infrastructure.