## 1 Introduction  
Concrete-faced rockfill dams (CFRDs) are widely used in the dam industry owing to their numerous advantages [1, 2]. Since the introduction of CFRDs in China, significant progress has been made in both the number of dam constructions and the height of these dams. Over 400 CFRDs have been built and are under construction in China, and the design height of a considerable number of dams is being challenged toward the 300 m mark. Currently, among the CFRDs that have been constructed or are in progress, both domestically and internationally, some have experienced significant non-uniform deformation during the completion or operational phases. This deformation can lead to cracks in the face slab, separation between the face slab and the cushion layer, and compression damage at the vertical joints of the face slab [3]. These issues may result in excessive leakage or even collapse of the dam body [4, 5], leading to serious loss of life and property. For instance, the Campos Novos CFRD in Brazil suffered hollowness in the face slab, causing cracks at the vertical joints and severe concrete spalling [6, 7]; the Xibeikou CFRD faced severe face slab cracking; the Gouhou concrete-faced gravel dam collapsed; the Zhushuqiao CFRD encountered water leakage due to face slab fractures and sealing structure damage; and during the initial stages of the Tianshengqiao concrete-faced rockfill dam, cracks and voids appeared in the face slab and cushion layers, accompanied by compression damage at the vertical joints. All these problems are associated with excessive deformation of the dam. With the continuing advancement of the water conservancy industry and construction technology, the height of faced rockfill dams has surpassed 200 m. Consequently, conducting stress and deformation analysis on CFRDs is of paramount importance [8]. This is especially true for ultra-high CFRDs, where accurate predictions of their stress and deformation status can help in applying preventive measures to control these issues, thereby ensuring the safety of the dams and protecting lives and property. The stress and deformation characteristics of CFRDs are influenced by various factors, such as dam height, water storage, valley terrain, phased panel filling, and temperature. The influence of various factors on the stress and deformation characteristics of CFRDs varies. Extensive research has been conducted on these influencing factors. This study compiled data on numerous CFRDs under construction and in operation, incorporating trait monitoring and finite element analysis data into the dataset; some of this information is indicated in Table 1. Figure 1 illustrates the statistical patterns of the maximum internal settlement of the dam and the maximum deflection of the face slabs in relation to the dam height under different operational conditions. It is evident from Figure 1 that the variation in dam height results in a maximum settlement of the dam body being predominantly controlled within 1.0% of the dam height. However, for some dams (Tianshengqiao and BaKun), the maximum settlement of the dam body approaches approximately 1.8%. For high dams, the deformation of individual projects has exceeded 1.0%, which can lead to cracks in the face panel. Ultra-high CFRDs, in particular, exhibited unfavorable deformation characteristics when the dam height was excessive. This is attributed to the pronounced particle breakage within the rockfill body under high-stress conditions, leading to reduced strength, considerable dam body deformation, and, consequently, significant cracks and voids in the face slab. Figure 1b reveals that the maximum deflection of the face slab during the water storage period was substantially greater than during the completion period, highlighting the profound impact of the water storage process on the stress and deformation characteristics of the face slab.