Geophysical Investigations for Dam Safety

Rapid & Cost Effective Investigations & Monitoring of Dams

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An ICID, AFA initiative
Geophysical
Investigations……

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance
An ICID, AFA initiative
Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance
An ICID, AFA initiative
Why Use Geophysics…….

• Low Cost
• Rapid Coverage
• Continuous information
• Optimization of dill holes
• Minimization of ‘Surprises’
• Early stage application…Better
planning, smooth execution.

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
 Dam Investigations

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Present Scenario...

• Surface only

• Inspector Dependent

• Standards?

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Traditional Approach?

Assumptions
&
Opinions

Data

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Proposed Approach?

Assumptions
&
Opinions

Data

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Available Solutions…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Which Technique/ Tool?

• Objective of Investigation
• Resolution required
• Depth penetration required
• Physical property to be defined
• Geometry of Dam
• Nature of target & host material

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Electrical Resistivity Imaging

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
 Application of Electrical Resistivity Imaging- Dams…

• Presence of water/ moisture primarily changes conductivity of

dam material.

• Provides vertical sections of electrical properties

• Excellent method to detect saturated zones

• Excellent method to detect leakage paths

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Typical Line Layout on Dam...

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Electrical Resistivity Imaging Results...

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Electrical Resistivity Imaging Results...

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Electrical Resistivity Imaging Results...

Electrical Resistivity Section from dam crest of a masonry dam Showing Zone of Saturation (Green & Blue)

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
 Streaming Potential

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Streaming Potential- Basic Principle…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Streaming Potential by Dam Seepage…

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Streaming Potential by Seepage from Reservoir Floor…

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SP Results (with ERI)…

300

200

100
Streaming Potential (mV)

0
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

-100

-200

-300 Chainage (ft)

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
SP Results (with ERI)…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Ground Penetrating Radar

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Application of GPR- Dams…

• Used for Stratigraphic Profile, buried objects

• Principle- EM Reflections

• Used in Dams for

– Characterizing internal structure
– Soft Zones, heterogeneities
– Sub Bottom Profiles of Reservoirs
– Detection of cavities

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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GPR- Results (Interfaces)…

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GPR- Results (Interfaces)…

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GPR- Results (Cavity)…

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GPR- Stilling Basin…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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GPR- Results (Stilling Basin)…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
GPR- Results (Stilling Basin)…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
GPR- Results (Stilling Basin)…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
GPR- Results (Stilling Basin)…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
 Seismic Refraction

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Application of Seismic Refraction- Dams…

• Undertaken from dam top

• Two or more parallel profiles on dam top and downstream side

• Provides P wave velocity- Strength of subsurface material

• Bedrock mapping

• Phreatic line determination

• Seepage zone identification

• Post construction QC tool

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Seismic Refraction- Dam Body Velocity Model…

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Seismic Refraction- Phreatic Surface…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Seismic Refraction- Phreatic Surface…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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 ReMi/ MASW

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Application of Remi/ MASW- Dams…

• Provides S Wave Velocity of subsurface-

Stiffness

• Undertaken from dam top

• Used for earthquake site response

• Used for liquefaction analysis

• Mapping of subsurface and estimating

strength of embankment

• Identification of subsidence zones

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
ReMi Results…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
ReMi Results…

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Seismic (Sonic) Tomography

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Application of Seismic Tomography- Dams…

• Provides high resolution images of dam interior

• Provides P wave velocity- Directly linked to strength & Density

• Done between two faces

• Between dam top and gallery

• Between upstream and downstream face

• Possible to pin-point defect zones within the dam

• Enables grout quantity estimation

• Determines treatment success by pre and post treatment study

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Seismic Tomography- Basic Principle…
• Similar to tomography between bore holes

• L-Section Tomography- between dam top and

gallery

• If more than one gallery

INVERSION IN
• Between dam top & first gallery DONE
PROGRESS

• Between first gallery & bottom gallery

• Cross Face Tomography– between upstream

& downstream face

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
L-Section Tomography…Ray Path Coverage

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L-Section Tomography…Inversion & Velocity Model

Inversion in process

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Cross Face Tomography… Ray Coverage

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Cross Face Tomography… Inversion & Velocity Model

Inversion in
Progress

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

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Cross Face Tomography… Results

Velocity tomography Density tomography

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Cross Face Tomography… Results

Velocity tomography Density tomography

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
 When do you need to investigate your dam?

• It is desirable to have a 'base line' data of dam soon after

completion of dam.
• For older dams, this time is 'now'.
• Before designing rehabilitation plan
• After carrying out rehabilitation works (to check efficacy)
• ‘Changes' in physical properties are much easier to interpret
than one time measurement values.
• Under 'normal' conditions, such measurements should be
repeated every couple of years as a routine dam inspection
program.

Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance

An ICID, AFA initiative
Conclusions of the Session…
• Most suitable method for regular health checks of dams
• Early detection of problems
• Totally non-destructive, extremely suitable for structures like
dams
• Helps design rehabilitation programs better and accurately
• Helps assess success of rehabilitation measures undertaken
• Identification of damaged areas inside the body dam
• Identification of not visible fractures and voids
 More information
• Identification of zones of seepages + Low Cost + Quick
Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance
An ICID, AFA initiative
Webinar on Dam and Network Safety Assurance
An ICID, AFA initiative