Q. 98 – R.

COMMISSION INTERNATIONALE
DES GRANDS BARRAGES
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VINGT-CINQUIÈME CONGRÈS
DES GRANDS BARRAGES
Stavanger, Juin 2015
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CONCRETE LINING OF THE CORE-FOUNDATION INTERFACE TO PREVENT

INTERNAL EROSION: AN EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT (*)

Alfredo GRANADOS
Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Luis GARROTE
Professor, Ph.D., Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Isabel GRANADOS
Associate Professor, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

José Antonio REMESAL

Head of the Huelva Water Section, Environment and Water Agency of Andalucía

SPAIN

1. INTRODUCTION

The core-foundation interface of the embankment dams requires particular

attention during design and construction, and specific surveillance during
operation. A deficient treatment of this area may facilitate seepage along the
interface and erosion of the core-base which, in turn, could lead to a major
internal erosion process [1]. Several dam incidents and failures were initiated
following this mechanism. For instance, an imperfect core-foundation treatment
was one of the causes of the Teton Dam collapse in 1976 [2].

Therefore, it is clear that this surface requires specific study and treatment.
Stripping, cleaning, removing unsuitable materials and shaping, are considered
the minimum operations for preparing it [3]. In addition to this, a gallery beneath

(*)
Revêtement béton de l'interface noyau-fondation pour prévenir l'érosion interne:
analyse d’efficacité

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the core-base could be used. This gallery is an excellent safety element, as it

provides a direct access to foundation, facilitating inspection and grouting during
operation [4] [5]. Hence, despite its construction cost, is a usual arrange on
impervious core dams. However, depending on the specific lithology and
stratification, this option could be replaced by a concrete lining of the core-
foundation interface. An option that could be advantageous when the following
circumstances concur: the foundation is not erodible and no additional grouting
treatment is predictable; and the excavation of the trench which houses the
gallery would damage or decompress the rock, deteriorating the foundation
conditions.

The risk of contact erosion at the core-foundation interface increases in

those sites where the bed’s strike is orthogonal to the dam axis. In such case
seepage may flow along the joints eroding the clay particles of the core-base
(Figure 1a).

Fig. 1
Longitudinal sketch of an un-lined (a) and a lined (b) core-foundation.
Croquis longitudinal d'une interface noyau-fondation non-revêtue (a) et revêtue (b).

Internal erosion through the contact when these adverse geological

conditions appear could be prevented by placing a concrete lining (Figure 1b).
This concrete protection works as a barrier, separating the core particles from the
beds and joints.

This measure, that could be a cost-effective alternative to galleries, was

used to prevent internal erosion on Andévalo dam. It is a rockfill dam with a thin
clay core, 80 m high and 1862 m long, with one of the largest Spanish reservoirs
(1025 hm3) [6]. Its construction was completed in 2002 and its first filling has
been finished in 2013.

This paper presents that experience, describing the foundation

characteristics, the design features and the performance assessment of the lining
during the impoundment.

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2. SITE GEOLOGY

The foundation rock of Andévalo dam is constituted by monotonous

sequences of thin-to-medium bedded Devonian-Carbonian wackes and shales.
The display of the beds and joints is sub-vertical following the river direction,
orthogonal to the dam axis (Figure 2). This unfavourable orientation facilitates
leakage along foundation, which could be decompressed in surface.

Fig. 2
Andévalo dam. Strike and dip of the beds at the dam site.
Barrage d’Andévalo. Direction et pendage des strates.

Fig. 3
Andévalo dam. Cross-section.
Barrage d’Andévalo. Coupe.

1. Impervious core 1. Noyau imperméable

2. Rockfill 2. Enrochement
3. Filter 3. Filtre
4. Transition 4. Transition
5. Concrete lining 5. Revêtement béton

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Although the bedding planes are generally closed, as confirmed by the

geological survey (the Lugeon Test that were carried out gave results between 1
and 3 LU), the core-foundation interface has been carefully treated. As explained
above, the particular site geology increases the risk of contact erosion, since that
preferential leaking ways may erode the clay particles at the core base initiating
an internal erosion process. As the foundation was found impervious and future
grouting was not predictable, and given that the excavation process of a trench
for housing a gallery may deteriorate the rock; it was decided to use a concrete
lining for preventing potential development of piping processes on the interface
(Figure 3).

3. CORE-FOUNDATION TREATMENT AND MONITORING

The treatment was extended along the entire core base. The topsoil and
weathered rock were excavated until suitable material was found. To that end the
excavation depth varies between 1 and 7 m. Foundation treatment (Figure 4) was
carried out following the next sequence:

▪ Shaping, cleaning and regularizing the surface with dental concrete.

▪ Installation of anchors: Φ25 mm steel bars, 3 m long, on a 5 x 5 m mesh.
▪ Construction of the concrete protection, which consisted in a 0.50 m thick
concrete slab (minimum 0.30 m, depending on the surface shape),
reinforced with a steel mesh 200 x 200 x 10 mm.
▪ Shotcrete protection of the downstream slope of the key trench (0.10 m
thick).
▪ Blanket grouting of the core-base area, using the concrete slab as working
platform. The main features of this process are:
∙ The blanket was completed in two phases, both covering a 5 x 5 m
mesh, being the holes of the second mesh drilled in the centres of the
squares defined by primary ones. The depth of the holes is 10 m,
except in those areas were the admission was significant. In such
cases, the holes were re-grouted and the depth increased until 20 m.
∙ Holes were grouted in two phases, each 5 m long, from down to top.
Pressure for the first phase was of 6 kg/cm2 and for the second phase
was of 3 kg/cm2.
∙ Pilot holes, were drilled in the slab, at intermediate points with respect
to the grouting holes, to control and prevent uplift pressures.
▪ Both the grout holes and the anchors were inclined, with the objective of
intersecting a larger number of joints.

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Internal erosion processes are difficult to detect. The protection against

contact erosion considered this fact and included extensive instrumentation of
piezometers both above an under the concrete lining, to assess its performance.
The use of the piezometers has been combined with regular inspections of the
downstream slope and seepage control.

Fig. 4
Andévalo dam. Core-foundation lining
Barrage d’Andévalo. Revêtement béton de l’interface noyau-fondation

1. Regularization with dental 1. Régularisation de l’excavation

concrete avec du béton
2. Anchors 2. Ancres
3. Reinforced concrete slab 3. Dalle de béton armé (0,5 m
(0.5 m thick) d'épaisseur)
4. Shotcrete protection of the 4. Protection béton projeté de la
downstream slope pente en aval

The core-foundation interface is widely monitored. The equipment is

distributed in 39 cross-sections along the dam, which were spaced around 50 m.
Each section is equipped with two lines of piezometers. Line 1 is located above
the slab. It has three piezometers: at the upstream third, at the centre and at the
downstream third. Pressure cells were also installed on line 1, in alternate cross-
sections. Line 2 is located beneath the slab; it has also three piezometers with
identical arrangement to that of the line 1.

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4. PERFORMANCE DURING OPERATION

The lining of the core-foundation interface was expected to work as a

barrier, separating seepage ways and clay particles; and so preventing contact
erosion. This protective function has been analyzed with the monitoring
equipment and the surveillance, during the impounding process (2002-2013).

Although pore pressure measurements are related to specific points of the

dam and leakage may be located elsewhere, the extensive monitoring system for
controlling this variable gives an accurate idea on how the lining performs. Figure
5 shows the evolution of the pore pressures in two sections, for the pair of
piezometers located at the dam axis. It can be observed how the pore pressure
follows the evolution of the reservoir level, with slight differences depending on
the location of each apparatus. The general trend that is observed for most of the
piezometers pairs is that pressures on the foundation have a faster response to
changes in the reservoir level than those on the core-base. This effect suggests
that the foundation permeability on the rock foundation is larger than that of the
core-base.

Fig. 5
Pore pressure evolution above and beneath the concrete slab.
Évolution de la pression interstitielle au-dessus et en dessous de la dalle.

The other facts that were monitored during impoundment (regular

surveillance and seepage control) also indicate that the lining performance has
been satisfactory. The regular inspection detected local springs at the
downstream toe, in the more permeable areas. In those points v-notch weirs
were installed to measure the leakage evolution. The leakage was small
(between 0.6 and 1 l/s) and clean, with no evidence of clay removal; indicating
the good performance of the interface lining.

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5. CONCLUSIONS

The lining of the core-foundation interface with a concrete slab has been
shown as an effective layout to prevent internal erosion in Andévalo dam. The
analysis of the pore pressure evolution shows that the lining works as a barrier
between seepage through foundation and the clay particles of the core-base.

This arrangement is particularly suitable for foundations with sub-vertical

display of the rock joints, especially when the bed’s strike is orthogonal to the
dam axis. That adverse layout may facilitate leakage trough the joints even in
impervious formations, facilitating the development of contact erosion. In such
cases the use of a concrete slab for lining the interface is a cost-effective
alternative to the construction of an inspection gallery beneath the core.

The performance of the protection lining has been controlled with pairs of
piezometers, located above and under the slab. That is to say, a line to control
pore pressures development on the clay-slab contact and another to do it at the
slab-foundation one.

Pore pressure on the core-slab line has a slower response to changes in

reservoir level than the one on the foundation-slab interface. This behaviour, in
which the pore pressure evolution of clay shows a significant inertia when
following the reservoir level, is not that clear in the foundation. This is due to the
different permeability of each one. This fact was expected for the site geology
and clay characteristics of Andévalo dam.

The monitoring of the pore pressures has been complemented with regular
inspections of the downstream slope and seepage control. Some springs were
detected downstream the more permeable areas. The leakage was small and
clean, with no traces of fine particles been dragged.

Therefore, the results of pore pressure monitoring, downstream

surveillance and seepage control are indicating the good performance of the
interface lining and its aptitude for preventing contact erosion.

REFERENCES

[1] ICOLD (2013), Bulletin 164: Internal erosion of existing dams, levees
and dikes, and their foundations. Volume 1: Internal erosion processes
and engineering assessment, Paris.
[2] Independent panel to review causes of Teton Dam failure (1976), Failure
of Teton Dam, Idaho falls, Idaho.

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[3] USBR (2012), Design Standards 13: Embankment dams. Chapter 3:

Surface treatment, Denver, Colorado.
[4] SPANCOLD (2014), Guía Técnica 2: Criterios para proyectos de presas
y sus obras anejas. Tomo 2: Presas de materiales sueltos, Madrid.
(in Spanish)
[5] WEAVER K.D. & BRUCE D.A. (2007), Dam foundation grouting, ASCE
Press, Reston, Virginia.
[6] LÓPEZ F., GRANADOS A., SANZ M. & ABADÍA F. (2004), Andévalo
enhances water resources management in the Chanza river basin,
Hydropower and Dams, 11(3):17-78.

SUMMARY

The core-foundation interface of the embankment dams requires specific

attention during design, construction and operation. An inadequate treatment of
this surface may facilitate leakage along the interface, and this may progress into
contact erosion of the core-base. Several incidents and failures were initiated
under that mechanism. The use of a gallery beneath the core for inspection and
grouting is a usual arrangement to improve safety in this area. However
depending on the geology, it may be cost-effective and equally safely to protect
the core-foundation interface with a concrete lining, which works as a barrier that
isolates the clay core particles from the potential under-seepage.

This arrangement has been used at Andévalo dam (one of the largest
Spanish reservoirs). The protective concrete slab was widely monitored to control
pore pressure evolution, with piezometers pairs located both above and beneath
the lining. Control has been complemented with regular surveillance of the
downstream slope and seepage measurements. This paper presents an
assessment of the lining performance as a measure to prevent contact erosion,
which has been excellent during the first 12 years of operation (including first
impoundment from 2002 to 2013).

RÉSUMÉ

L’interface noyau-fondation des barrages en remblai nécessite une

attention particulière lors de la conception, de la construction et de l’exploitation.
Un traitement insuffisant de cette surface peut faciliter les fuites le long de celle-
ci, et évoluer vers l’érosion du noyau à la base de contact. Ce processus est à
l’origine de plusieurs incidents et ruptures. L’utilisation d’une galerie sous le
noyau pour l’inspection et l’injection est une disposition habituelle pour améliorer
la sécurité dans ce domaine. Toutefois, suivant la géologie, il peut être rentable

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avec le même niveau de sécurité de protéger l’interface noyau-fondation par un

revêtement béton, qui fonctionne comme une barrière isolant les particules du
noyau d’argile des infiltrations inférieures.

Cette disposition a été utilisée au barrage d’Andévalo (retenant l’un des

plus grands réservoirs d’Espagne). La dalle de béton de protection a été
largement surveillée pour contrôler l’évolution de la pression interstitielle, avec
des paires de piézomètres situés au-dessus et en dessous du revêtement. Ce
contrôle a été complété par la surveillance régulière de la recharge aval et par
des mesures d’infiltration. Cet article présente une évaluation des performances
du revêtement comme mesure visant à prévenir l’érosion de contact. Ces
résultats ont été excellents au cours de ces 12 premières années d’exploitation (y
compris la première mise en eau de 2002 à 2013).

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