Foundation Evaluation: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:10, 2 November 2022

According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), the five most likely causes of dam failures are: overtopping, foundation defects, cracking, inadequate maintenance and upkeep, and piping.^[1] In order to prevent a dam failure, a properly designed foundation is essential.

“The earth embankment and its foundation must be stable and withstand all anticipated loads without movements leading to failure. Provide measures for adequate seepage control under all anticipated loads.” ^[2]

"The purpose of conducting an investigation of foundation and earth materials is to obtain information about these materials for use in analysis, design, construction, and performance monitoring of a structure. The detail of the investigation should be commensurate with the magnitude and type of structure involved, the study being undertaken, and the stage of the project. On all dam projects, the watertightness of the foundations, the suitability of the foundations for the dam and appurtenant structures, and the construction material sources are important geological and engineering considerations."^[3]

Types of Foundation Evaluations

The situations below are common issues examined through foundation evaluation:

Best Practices Resources

Rock Foundations (EM 1110-1-2908) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) (Bureau of Reclamation)

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 15: Foundation Grouting) (Bureau of Reclamation)

Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 16: Cutoff Walls) (Bureau of Reclamation)

Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 4- Embankment Dams (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs (Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Trainings

On-Demand Webinar: Evaluation and Maintenance of Piezometers, Relief Wells, and Drains in Dams and Levees

On-Demand Webinar: Advances in Geologic Data Collection and 3D Geologic Modeling for Site Characterization and Safety Studies for Dams and Levees

On-Demand Webinar: Foundation Cutoff Walls for Dams and Levees

On-Demand Webinar: Foundation Preparation and Treatment for Dam Construction

On-Demand Webinar: Introduction to Grouting for Dams

Citations:

Revision ID: 4091
Revision Date: 11/02/2022

[ASDSO-1] Dam Failures and Incidents, ASDSO, 2022

[Small_Dams-2] Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs (Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2019)

[DS13-12-3] Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) (USBR, 2012)

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 “The earth embankment and its foundation must be stable and withstand all anticipated loads without movements leading to failure. Provide measures for adequate seepage control under all anticipated loads.” <ref name="Small Dams">[[Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs| Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs (Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2019)]]</ref>
+"The purpose of conducting an investigation of foundation and earth materials is to obtain information [[about]] these materials for use in analysis, design, [[construction]], and performance monitoring of a structure. The detail of the investigation should be commensurate with the magnitude and type of structure involved, the study being undertaken, and the stage of the project. On all dam projects, the watertightness of the foundations, the suitability of the foundations for the dam and appurtenant structures, and the construction material sources are important geological and [[engineering]] considerations."<ref name="DS13-12">[[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) | Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) (USBR, 2012)]]</ref>
 ==Types of Foundation Evaluations==
@@ Line 14: / Line 16: @@
 ==Best Practices Resources==
 {{Document Icon}} [[Rock Foundations (EM 1110-1-2908)|Rock Foundations (EM 1110-1-2908) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)]]
-{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation)|Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
+{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) | Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 12: Foundation and Earth Materials Investigation) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
-{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 15: Foundation Grouting)|Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 15: Foundation Grouting) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
+{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 15: Foundation Grouting) | Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 15: Foundation Grouting) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
-{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 16: Cutoff Walls)|Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 16: Cutoff Walls) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
+{{Document Icon}} [[Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 16: Cutoff Walls) | Design Standards No. 13: Embankment Dams (Ch. 16: Cutoff Walls) (Bureau of Reclamation)]]
-{{Document Icon}} [[Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 4- Embankment Dams|Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 4- Embankment Dams (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)]]
+{{Document Icon}} [[Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 4- Embankment Dams | Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 4- Embankment Dams (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)]]
-{{Document Icon}} [[Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs|Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs (Natural Resources Conservation Service)]]
+{{Document Icon}} [[Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs | Technical Release 210-60: Earth Dams and Reservoirs (Natural Resources Conservation Service)]]
 ==Trainings==