Dam safety, instrumentation, Surveillance and risk analysis

Dam Safety : Instrumentation & Surveillance

Reservoirs constitute a potential hazard to downstream life and property. The flood plain at risk in the event of catastrophic breaching may be extensive, densely populated & of considerable economic importance, in such cases dam failure can result in unacceptable loss of life and damage. Catastrophic failure of a dam, other than as the direct result of an extreme flood event, is invariably preceded by a period of progressively increasing; structural distress with in the dam and/or its foundation. Dam Surveillance programmers & instrumentations are intended to detect and, where possible, to identify symptoms of distress at the earliest possible stage.

Application & objectives

Monitoring instruments are provided in almost all new dams and basic level of instrumentation for older dams. In new dams instrumentation data is interpreted to provide an indication of the validity of design assumption and to determine an initial datum pattern of performance against which subsequent observations can be assessed. In older & existing dams instruments are installed provide a measure of assurance, to reared specific parameters which are suspected as design deficiency of behavioral problem. Planning & commissioning of instrumentation should be handled by relatively senior & experienced personnel with in responsible origination.

Dam Safety

Instrumentation

There are three main reasons for monitoring the performance of dams and their foundations: 1. To observe the performance for safety reasons, 2. To compare the actual performance with that predicted by designer, 3. To improve our knowledge of the behavior of dams in general. Provision of monitoring instruments is an accepted practice in all dams of any magnitude. To provide an indication of the validity of design assumptions, To determine an initial datum pattern of performance against which subsequent observations can be assessed. A basic level of instrumentation is frequently installed to monitor existing dams. Instruments may be installed to provide a measure of reassurance They serve to detect significant and abnormal deviations in longterm behavior of the dam

1.
2.

3.

4.

In existing dams instruments may also be required to record specific parameters of behavior in response to an acknowledged or suspected design deficiencies or behavioral problem. The primary function of instrumentation may be for: Construction control: verification of critical design parameters with immediate looped feedback to design and construction, Post-construction performance: validation of design; determination of initial or datum behavioral pattern. Service performance/surveillance: reassurance of structural adequacy; detection of regressive change in established behavioral pattern; investigation of identified or suspected problems. Research/development: academic research; equipment proving and development. There are possible overlap between certain of the functional classifications.

Parameters in monitoring dam behavior

The most significant parameters are: 1. Seepage and leakage (quantity, nature, location & source); 2. Settlement and loss of freeboard in embankments (magnitude, rate); 3. External and internal deformation (magnitude, rate, location); 4. Pore water pressures and uplift (magnitude, variation); 5. Internal stress or pressure (magnitude). Certain key parameters are of primary concern regardless of the type of dam, e.g. seepage and external movement or deflection; others are relevant to a specific type of dam, e.g. pore water pressures in relation to earth fill embankments.

Instruments: Design Principles Monitoring instruments are required to function satisfactorily under very harsh environmental conditions and for essentially indeterminate periods of time, possibly several decades. It is desirable that instruments be 1. As simple in concept as is consistent with their function, 2. Robust and reliable, 3. Durable under adverse environmental and operating conditions, and 4. Acceptable for through-life cost (i.e. the sum of purchase, installation, support & monitoring costs).

Instrumentation Planning The planning and specification of a comprehensive suite of instruments involves a logical sequence of decisions: 1. Definition of purpose and objectives; 2. Definition of observations appropriate to the dam considered; 3. Determination of the locations and numbers of measuring points for the desired operation; 4. Consideration of the time period to be spanned, I.e. long- or short-term monitoring; 5. Consideration of the optimum sensing mode in relation to the desired rapidity of response, required accuracy, etc; 6. Selection of hardware appropriate to the task as defined under 1 5.

Data acquisition and management Logical planning of data acquisition and processing is essential if the purpose of an instrumentation program is to fully realized. Unless observations are reliable and the information is interpreted quickly, the value of a program will be severely diminished. Within the operating plan the frequency of monitoring should be determined on a rational basis, reflecting the objectives and the individual parameters under scrutiny.

E.g.Table: Representative monitoring frequencies for embankments

Parameter Water level Frequency Daily wherever possible

Seepage

Daily or weekly

Piezometers

Once or twice weekly (construction) to 3 to 6 monthly (routine)

Settlementdeformation

Daily (suspected serious slip) to 3 to 6 monthly (routine)

Surveillance
Dams all type require regular surveillance if they are to be maintained in a safe and operationally efficient state Primary objectives of surveillance program is to minimize the possibilities of catastrophic failure of the dam by the timely detection of the design inadequacies or regressive changes in behavior, It also assists in the scheduling of routine maintenance or, when necessary, of major remedial works. Surveillance embraces the regular and frequent observation and recording of all aspects of the service performance of a dam and its reservoir, It includes: Routine observation and inspection The monitoring and assessment of seepage & instrumentation data The recording of all other relevant information, including hydrological records

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4. 5.

For the purpose of describing necessary surveillance activities, many of which are interdependent, five critical phases in the life cycle of a dam must be identified: The design or pre-construction phase The construction phase The period of first reservoir filling when the impact of hydraulic loading and reservoir-induced seepage effects can be initially observed & assesses The early operational period of the dam The subsequent ageing of the operating structure and its infrequent exposure to extremes of hydraulic and external loading

Dam safety legislation

Legislation to cover the construction & safe long. Term operation of dams has assumed greater importance as the member & size of dams at risk has steadily increased. The situation is dynamic rather than static, & most commutes have introduced or reviewed national legislation. National legislation falls in to two patterns 1) Legislation is precise & detailed, and is operated through some measure of direct state control. 2) Legislation responsibility placed in the hands of nominated individual engineers.

 The applicability of any legislation must be clearly defined. This is morally done in forms of a minimum reservoir storage capacity above natural ground level and/or a minimum height of a dam. Legislation must also adequately prescribe responsibility for the propos supervision of design, construction and operation, and must detail arguments for surveillance & periodic inspections.

Recommended location of embedded instruments in arch dams (elevation looking upstream)

Recommended location of embedded instrumentation in arch dam (section at crown cantilever)

Typical layout of plumb lines in arch dam

Layout for joint meters

Recommend ed Readout schedule

Type of Instrument

During Construction1

During Initial Filling

First 2 years of Operation

Next 5 years of Operation

After 7 years of Operation

Plumblines and optical plummets

Inverted Plumblines

N/A
weekly

weekly
weekly

monthly
monthly

quarterly
quarterly

semiannually
semiannually semiannually semiannually semiannually semiannually semiannually semiannually semiannually semiannually quarterly semiannually semiannually quarterly quarterly

Inclinometers

weekly

weekly

monthly

quarterly

Extensometers

weekly

weekly

monthly

quarterly

Joint meters

weekly

weekly

biweekly

quarterly

Triangulation

N/A

weekly

monthly

quarterly

Trilateration

N/A weekly2 weekly2 weekly2 N/A monthly weekly3

weekly

monthly

quarterly

Strain meters "No-Stress" strain meters Stress meters Weirs, etc. Open piezometers

weekly

monthly

quarterly

weekly

monthly

quarterly

weekly weekly monthly

monthly weekly quarterly

quarterly monthly quarterly

Closed piezometers Uplift pressure gauges Thermometers

weekly

monthly

quarterly

weekly weekly4

weekly weekly

biweekly monthly

monthly monthly

Plumblines: Plumblines and optical plummets measure bending, tilting, and deflections of concrete structures. Conventional plumblines are suspended from the top of the structure and extend down to the lowest readout gallery. Inclinometer: Inclinometers are used to measure angles from vertical. They can be used both in the concrete mass or extended into the foundation. Extending the inclinometer into the foundation can provide information on a potential sliding plane being investigated. Extensometers and Inclinometers: Extensometers and inclinometers should be installed into the foundation as early in the construction as practical, preferably before concrete placement, to determine deformations in the foundation due to construction activities. The location of the extensometers should correspond to the arch elevations for the other instrumentation groups. The total length of the extensometer should be between 25 and 50 percent of the height of the dam. Joint meters: One or two joint meters are required in every other monolith joint at the midheight elevation of alternate grout lifts. Triangulation and trilateration targets: Targets should be placed at the crest and at one or more points on the downstream face. The targets should correspond to the location of the plumblines. Temperature: Thermometers should be installed at locations to verify the thermal gradient through the structure and to obtain the temperature history of the concrete.

Stress/strain Clusters: Clusters of strain meters, "no-stress" strain meters, and stress meters should be positioned along four or five arch elevations that correspond to arch elevations used in the design and analysis. Seepage: Initially, seepage through the joints and through the drains can be measured at two weirs, each located to collect seepage through the drains along each abutment. Measurements of individual drains should also be made on a regular basis. Additional seepage monitoring points can be added after the initial reservoir filling, if the need arises. Pressure: Three uplift pressure groups (standpipe or closed piezometer groups) should be located in a similar manner as the plumblines. There should be at least four uplift pressure measuring points through the thickness of the dam in each group with a spacing between points of no more than 30 feet.