Chapter 2: Dam Foundation

Tinsae S.

2023
2. Foundation of Dams and Their Treatment

General

Def: Foundation is part of the area under

and adjacent to a dam, i.e., bottom and
abutments.

Other
6%

 Dam failures(ICOLD)
Hydraulic
Piping (Overtopping
33% )
38%

Foundation/
structural
23%
 A sound foundation
 Have sufficient strength to
 With stand crushing and
 Prevent sliding,
 Is tight enough to
 Prevent excessive leakage and
 Reduce uplift,
 Is strong enough not be damaged by overflow discharge and discharge from
outlet works.

 Foundations may be classified as:

 Rock foundations
 Earth foundations
 Foundations of coarse grained material(sand and gravel)
 Foundations of fine grained materials(silt and clay)
Geo technical Investigation of Dam Foundation

 In all civil engineering works, the most crucial element is

obtaining the reliable information of the ground in which the
project is to be founded
 It is the surface and subsurface ground exploration for any
engineering structures and it is a prerequisite for the
successful and economic deign of engineering structures.
 Depending on the detail information they have and area
coverage geotechnical investigation can be classified as regional
investigation and site investigation.
Objectives of geotechnical investigation

: is to obtain information that will aid the geotechnical engineer in the

following tasks:
 Selecting the type and depth of suitable foundation for a given
structure
 Evaluating the load-bearing capacity of the foundation
 Estimating the settlement of a structure
 Determining potential foundation problems (expansive soil,
collapsible soil, and soon)
 Determining the location of the ground water table
 Predicting lateral earth pressure for structures such as retaining
walls cuts etc.
 Objectives…..

 Predicting different geological hazards and develop a remedial

measure for design and construction.
 To estimate realistic and competitive tenders
 To select appropriate construction equipment (especially for
excavation and foundations).
Phases of Geotechnical Investigation of Dam Foundation
A. Reconnaissance or Preliminary Survey

 It is the first site visit by experienced professional to see

the general feasibility of the site.
 At this stage the information such as geology, topography,
accessibility, type of existing structures and their condition,
potential natural hazards, examine the soil and rocks through the
existing exposure such as road cut, building excavation, gravel
pits, stream cut and etc.
 Examine the sign of slope instability, evidence of flooding level
along streams.
 Ground water level from the existing wells
 About building code and foundation types used in the locality
 Phases…..

B. Detail Investigation(site exploration)

 It is the extensive investigation of the proposed site.

 Its result incorporates into the final design and construction of the
project.
 It investigates the detail surface and subsurface condition of
the proposed site.
 The quality and source of the construction material would
study.
 It provide information about adverse condition of the site and
recommend the remedial measure.
Method of Investigation

A. Geological Mapping
B. Indirect Investigation
C. Direct Investigation
A).Geological Mapping

 Geological and geomorphologic mapping can be conducted at a

scale of 1:10,000 and 1:2,000 to collect information on the
lithologic units, stratigraphy and mass fabric, and identify
geological structures in the dam site and the reservoir area.
Geological Mapping…..
Geological Mapping…..
Geological Mapping…..
1) Geological structure

 They are the geological structures those formed

by deformation after the rocks are formed.
 Theirs size is range from small fractures to the big
faults and folds those responsible for the formation of
ocean basins, mountain ranges and etc.
 The stress responsible for the formation of such
structures can be tensional, compressional or shear
stresses.
Geological Mapping…..
 Folds
• It is the bending or buckling of bedrock by
compressive force applied parallel to bedding plane.
 Fractures
• It is the crack formed due to the shearing of brittle
material.
• The following are the two types of fractures.
Geological Mapping…..

 Joints:
• It is the fractures without displacement they can be
described as master joint (it traced over extensive
area), joint set (joints those have same orientation)
and joint system (groups of joint sets in
particular area).
 Fault:
• It is the fractures with horizontal, vertical and oblique
displacement.
B).Indirect Investigation
• It is a method that can support the surface and
direct subsurface exploration by providing
important information in large area within short
period of time and with small cost.
• It can help to determine the location of borehole and
to fill the gap between different bore holes.
• The best known Indirect exploration methods are
Geophysical methods such as seismic (refraction or
reflection), electrical resistivity and magnetic surveys
and others.
Indirect Investigation….
• They are relatively rapid and low-cost with other direct
methods
• The geophysical exploration can evaluate the
subsurface material based on their physical properties
such as seismic velocity variation, electrical resistivity
variation, magnetic susceptibility and
gravitational attraction.
• These sub surface exploration are used to
explore foundation conditions for buildings, bridges,
and large dams.
 Indirect Investigation….
1. Seismic Survey Methods
• Both body waves; compression wave ( ) and shear
wave ( ) are applicable for geotechnical subsurface
characterization.
• The velocity of P-waves can be vary in different material;
in general in soil it ranges from 400m/s to 2500m/s while
in the rock it range from 2000m/s to 7000m/s depending
on the degree of weathering and fracturing.
• In general the shear wave velocity( )in soil is ranges
from100m/s600m/sand it may lower than this value in
soft peats and organic clay.
• Based on the velocity variation we can determine
different soil layers properties.
Indirect Investigation….

2. Electrical Resistivity Survey

• This method can measure the electrical resistivity of
sub surface material and estimate the type of
these material based on their resistivity values.
Indirect Investigation….
C). Direct Investigation

• Most of the detailed geological information during the

exploration is obtained through drilling.
• The initial bore hole locations generally are based on the
following criteria.
• One drill hole is made on each abutment, about half
way between the top and bottom of the abutment.
• One or more drill holes are made in the river section
normally along the dam axis.
Direct Investigation….

2.DirectInvestigation
Direct Investigation….
Sample photos of drilled core
 Rock foundation

 Rock is a solid, cohesive aggregate of one or more mineral materials.. i.e., they
consist of many individual mineral grains which are firmly held together in a solid
mass.
 The minerals that form rocks include Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Amphibole,
Pyrozene,Olivine,
Olivine, Calcite and dolmite, Clay, and Limonite and hematite.

 Rock cycle:
The three principal rock types are
Sedimentary
rocks:formedfromw
eathering of older
rocks.

Metamorphicrocks:f
ormed from actions
ofheat and pressure
Igneous
on extremerocks
rocks:crystalliz Melting
e frommolten
rock
Problems/Defects of rock foundations:
 Presence of seams, fissures, cracks or faults that will result in leakage, excessive loss
of water and sliding.
 Presence of weathered zone (surface rock)or crushed zone that results in separate
foundation.
Foundation Treatment
 Treatment of rock foundation consists of
 Grouting: cracks, fissures and faults are grouted
 Concrete infilling : weak joints are filled with concrete
 Excavation and removal: Weathered portion (surface rock) has to be excavated
and removed. Excavation has to be deep enough to give a firm ‘toehold’ to the dam.

 Grouting
Grouting consists of drilling a line or lines of drill holes in to the dam foundation, and
Forcing cements lurry, or chemicals in to the foundation under pressure.

 Grouting is carried out to:

 Reduce leakage through the dam foundation,
 Reduce seepage erosion potential,
 Reduce uplift pressures(under concrete gravity dams when used in
conjunction with drain holes),
 Strengthen the dam foundation and reduce settlements in the foundation
(for concrete gravity, buttress and arch dams).
 Foundation grouting takes two forms
 Consolidation Grouting
 Curtain grouting
A. Consolidation Grouting
 It is carried out to consolidate fissured or cracked foundations.
 It is applied only to the upper portion of the foundation where there is more fracture Rocks
 Grout Mix
 Cement grout : cement water in proportion of1:5to1:1(gaps greater than0.6mm)
 Clay-Bentonite grout: for openings smaller than0.6mm
 Chemical grout: for very fine cracks
 Grouting hole: Depth =15m
Spacing =3to6moncenters
Grout pressure =3.5kg/cm2(=350KPa)
 Grout holes are drilled and grouted in sequence to allow the testing of the permeability
of the foundation: execution starts with holes drilled and grouted from 12 to 25 m apart
;then, intermediate holes are drilled and grouted.
B. Curtain Grouting
 It is carried out to control leakage.
 It is designed to create a thin barrier(or curtain)through an area of high permeability.
 It usually consists of a single row of grout holes which are drilled and grouted to the
base of the permeable rock, or to such depths that acceptable hydraulic gradients are
achieved.
Depth: In hard rock =30–40%ofdamheight
In poor rock =asmuchas70%ofdamheight.
Tentative spacing=1.5mon centers
Grout Pressure =0.25Kg/cm 2per meter depth below the surface
 Grout Mix
 Cement grout:cement+water in proportion of 1:5to1:1(gaps less than 0.6mm)
 Clay-Bentonite grout: for openings smaller than0.6mm
 Chemical grout: for very fine cracks
 Grout holes are drilled and grouted in sequence to allow the testing of the permeability of
the foundation: execution starts with holes drilled and grouted from 12 to 25 m apart; then,
intermediate holes are drilled and grouted.
Earth foundation
General
Defn: Soils are non indurated accumulations of solid particles produced by the
physical and chemical disintegration of bed rock.
 A soil mass consists of solid particles and pore fluids.
 The solid particles are generally mineral grains of various sizes, shape which occur in
every conceivable arrangement.
 These solid particles can be divided in to various components, each component
contributing its share to the physical properties of the whole.
Soil components
A. Size:Two major divisions: Coarse grains and fine grains.
Coarse grains: Fine grains:
 Sizesfrom0.075mmto76mm  Sizes<200sieveor<0.075mm
 Divided into two  Divided into two
 Gravel(G):76mmto4.8mm  Silts
 Coarse gravel  Clays
 Fine gravel
 Sand(S):4.8mmto0.075mm(No4toNo200sieve)
 Coarse sand
 Medium sand
 Fine sand
 Shear Strength

C(Kpa) ϕ
Gravel foundation 35-50
Sand foundation 30-40
Silt foundation 75 27-35
Clay foundation 10-20 15-25
Stiff clay 300-700

 Permeability
 Coarse grained soils are highly permeable
 Fine grained soils are virtually impermeable
Permeability(cm/s)
Gravel foundation 0.01-1
Sand foundation 10-4–0.1
Silt foundation 10-6–10-4
Clay foundation 10-9–10-6
Problems of soil foundations
 Coarse grained soils( permeable foundation)
 The main problems of coarse grained soils are
 Excessive seepage under the dam
 Piping, and scouring by water flowing through the dam
 Medium shearing and compressive strength
 Fine grained soils
 The main problems of fine grained soils are
 Low shearing and compressive strength

Foundation Treatment
Treatment of permeable foundation of coarse grained soils
 Treatment include
 Provision of cut off trench filled with earth fill or
 Provision of slurry trench ,or
 Provision of grout curtain.
-to reduce (or almost stop if fully penetrating to an impervious base) seepage and
seepage exit gradients.
 Provision of upstream impervious blanket
-to increase the seepage path, reduces seepage, and seepage exit gradients.
 Consolidation of sand and gravel foundation by vibration
A-Shallow Pervious Foundation
 A positive cut off trench up to the impervious stratum
 Iftheimperviousstratumisrock,groutcurtainfortheimperviousstratum
B–Intermediate Depth of Pervious Foundation
 A positive cut off trench is expensive and another form of positive cut off is used
 Sheet piling
 Cement-bound or jet-grouted curtain cutoff
 Slurry trench
 Concrete cut off wall
 If the impervious stratum is rock, grout curtain for the impervious stratum
C–Deep Pervious Foundation
 A positive cut off any form is expensive
 An upstream impervious blanket with out partial cut off trenches may be used
Engineering Geology of Reservoir…..

 The factors, which influence the reservoir suitability are;

• Climate (evapotranspiration, rainfall…).
• Topography.
• Geological condition
• Vegetation cover
• Economic valuable mineral and historical places
Engineering Geology of Reservoir…..

 Topography :For storage at economic costs a bottleneck configuration is

required

At bottle neck
 Dam width and height is minimum.
 Storage volume is big.
Engineering Geology of Reservoir……

 Geological condition:
 Water tightness of the reservoir: soil type and geological structures
• Water can escape from the reservoir either into a adjacent valley or into its
own channel below the dam.
• Examples: dams in Tigray
 Stability of the reservoir slopes,
• Stability of the hill slopes around the reservoir has an important
consideration in the safe functioning of the dam.
• Major slides in the reservoir can significantly reduce the storage capacity of
the reservoir and overtopping by wave action.
• Examples: Vajoint dam,Italy,in1964.
 Siltation of the reservoir