Assessing the Efficiency of Seepage Control Measures in Earthfill Dams
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TECHNICAL NOTE
Assessing the Efficiency of Seepage Control Measures in Earthfill Dams Ali Torabi Haghighi
. Anne Tuomela . Ali Akbar Hekmatzadeh
Received: 26 February 2020 / Accepted: 16 May 2020 Ó The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Seepage control in earthfill dams is a major concern during different phases of dam construction and operation. More than 30% of earthfill dam failures occur due to uncontrolled flow in the dam body and foundation. Seepage control measures, designed and installed at suspected sites of uncontrolled flow, thus play a vital role in stabilizing earthfill dams. However, the actual efficiency of seepage control measures often falls short of expected performance due to soil heterogeneity and changes over time. Assessing the performance of seepage control measures based on monitoring and modeling is necessary to avoid abrupt failures in earthfill dams. In this study, we developed a novel method for quantifying the efficiency of seepage control measures in earthfill dams based on combined seepage modeling and monitoring data. We tested the method by
A. Torabi Haghighi (&) Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland e-mail: [email protected] A. Tuomela Structures and Construction Engineering Research Group, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland A. A. Hekmatzadeh Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Po. Box 71555-313, Shiraz, Iran
applying it to assess the efficiency of seepage control components at the Doroudzan dam, Iran. The results revealed that the overall efficiency of the dam’s seepage control measures (depending on water level in the reservoir) was 51–70%, based on the magnitude of discharged flow. The efficiency of three major seepage control devices, the chimney drain, cutoff wall, and grouting diaphragm in the left abutment, was 76–82%, 68–74%, and 16–19%, respectively. Keywords Seepage, dam failure Monitoring Piping Modeling, chimney drain, cutoff wall Grouting diaphragm Abbreviations masl Meter above mean sea level SCM Seepage control measures ICOLD International Commission On Large Dams NP New piezometer RW Relief well
1 Introduction Dams are essential infrastructure for water provision and have been serving human societies for 5000 years (ICOLD 2013). Dams are the cornerstone of water resources management by supplying water for irrigation, domestic, and industrial use, flood control,
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aquaculture, navigation, and recreation activities (Torabi Haghighi et al. 2014). However, dam failure and dam breaks can have catastrophic results. Dam failure gives rise to considerable costs and can result in loss of life and property, particularly in densely populated areas. Overtopping, internal erosion, and seepage problems in dam walls and foundation are reported to have been the main mechanisms behind 111 previous dam failures (ICOLD 1995). Seepage is a fundament
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