A numerical modeling of high concrete face rockfill dam (CFRD) has been considered in order to better understand the pathology of cracks observed in the recently constructed high CFRD, especially the horizontal and vertical cracks detected on the concrete face slab during the construction and the impoundment. The purpose of this modeling is then to confirm, clarify or complete the solutions proposed by the experts to avoid these disorders.This PhD thesis presents a constitutive model developed by EDF-CIH known as L&K-Enroch. It is an elastoplastic model that takes into account the irreversible deformations of rockfill under deviatoric and isotropic loading in high CFRD. A first attempt of proposing a parameter calibration approach has been made as well.Two dam modellings are also presented in this thesis in order to verify the reliability of the constitutive model and to better understand the pathology of cracks observed on the concrete face slab of CFRD. A 2D modeling is compared to the behaviour of the 180.5 m Aguamilpa Dam, Mexico; a 3D modeling taking into account the valley effect is compared to the behaviour of the 145 m Mohale Dam, Lesotho.This thesis also studies the scale effect of rockfill through a comparison of the simulation results of materials of different sizes. The impact of the scale effect on the dam behavior is analyzed as well.The presented 2D and 3D simulations are a contribution to the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of high CFRD. The results of the 2D modeling show a relatively good agreement with the monitored data. The 3D modeling explains, in a rather convincing way, the pathology of cracks on the slab face of CFRD. Some measures are proposed to limit or avoid these different kinds of cracks.
