Relevance. At present the application of numerical analyses to real problems of dam engineering has suffered at times from the gaps between the specialists of mathematical modeling and dam engineers and managers. The first group usually includes information system specialists because they are able to develop the computer models to their full potential. The professionals belonging to the second group often prefer to revert to traditional methods of calculation and empirical methods based on their proven experience. The aim of the work -based on recommendations of International workshops seminars, organized by the ICOLD Committee on Computational Aspects of Dam Analysis and Design, help dam engineers to interact with mathematical modeling specialists and to work with them without language barriers or gaps in knowledge. In this relation the assessment of reliability and applicability of numerical analyses of dams allows engineers to develop the optimal dam design. Methods. Assessment of the reliability of numerical methods of analyses of dam behavior was based on data of 10 International benchmark-workshop seminars, organized by the Committee in which specialists of these countries also took part.Keywords: reliability index; numerical models and analyses; static, seismic and hydraulic behavior of the dam For citation Lyapichev Yu.P., Mazza G., Mateu E., Zenz G., Carrère A.J. (2019). Reliability and applicability of modern numerical analyses of dams. Structural Mechanics of Engineering Constructions and Buildings, 15(6), 458-469. http://dx.

Relevance. Numerical analyses of behavior or stress-strain state (SSS) of embankment dams are usually performed using various computational programs, which use different, often complex mathematical models of soils. However, the right choice of these models is left to the program user, who usually has not enough experience in this field of knowledge, and therefore the results of these analyses are often obscure and erroneous. The aims of the work - development of recommendations for selecting the most reliable mathematical models of soils in numerical analyses of embankment dams and comparing these models with the most common models in modern world practice of their application. Methods. Deep comparative analysis of many soil models was conducted on the use of the soil models in numerical analyses of embankment dams during authors work in ICOLD Committee on Analysis and Dam Design. Results. On the basis of the evaluation of the reliability of soil models, recommendations were obtained on the choice and application of these models in the numerical analyses of SSS of embankment dams under action of static and seismic impacts; interactions between the results of these analyses and dam monitoring data were identified.