1525 Phil Carter
1525 Phil Carter
1525 Phil Carter
Investigation
TAN Zhongcheng*, LU Baohong , SUN Yingying
State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hohai University,
P.R.China, 210098
[email protected]
Abstract The paper discusses the principles of an integrated tracing approach to label the seepage
field. Isotope tracers (T, 131I etc) combined with in-situ physico-chemical parameters (EC, T, Ca2+,
Cl-,TDS etc) have been employed to identify source locations of seepage and leakage pathways within a
dam body. The author gives an integrated viewpoint about the seepage field of Fenshan section of
Douhe Reservior and points out that some central seepage passages caused by a lot of the rock
corrosions are the direct reason leading to the influent in great quantities in the reservoir every year.
Key words dam seepage; tracing method; isotope tracers; electronic conduction; temperature field
1 Introduction
Seepage and leakage problems may influence the economic value of dams and create serious problems
related to the stability of dams [1~3]. Many seepage problems and failure of dams have occurred because
of inadequate seepage control measures or incomplete cleanup and preparation of the cores, foundations,
and abutments, which can result in dam failure [4]. Therefore, to ascertain the rate of leakage and its
preferential paths it is very important to identify as precisely as possible the regions where the leakage
occurs. The investigation of this problem requires the combined use of different techniques. Some of
them are routinely used by dam engineers in their normal work. Most conventional seepage studies of
earth dams employ a mathematical model to evaluate dam stability [5~7]. These studies calculate the
effect of driving force, induced from reservoir–sourced seepage, on dam integrity after impoundment. In
addition, some cases of abnormal dam seepage are related to reservoir leakage, or the leakage derives
from the adjacent catchment[8]. This kind of leakage is geological; reservoir or catchment infiltrating
water flows into the dam’s structure via weak strata in the dam region. Therefore, geology as well as
dam integrity needs to be considered when abnormal dam seepage occurs. However, seepage problems
of earth dams are complex, because abnormal seepage/leakage does not have a simple geotechnical,
hydrological or geological cause. When combined with isotope hydrology techniques, the information
obtained may lead to a better identification of the problem and its mechanisms. J.S.Chen used the
methods of density measurement, artificial isotope tracking and environmental isotopic analysis in
boreholes to study on collapse sink of Huangbizhuang secondary dam [9]. Combined use of some in-situ
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physico-chemical parameters (EC, T, pH, DO etc) and isotope tracers ( H, O, T, I etc) has proven to
be best suited for investigating many dam/reservoir leakage/seepage problems.
*
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected]
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seepage via toe drainage to maintain the dam stability. In principle, the outflow seepage should be
uniform after fulfillment, if the seepage is a single source from the reservoir water. However, abnormal
water leakage has been observed at the downstream surface of the dam, and can be detected by
piezometers located above the middle filter in the dam. The piezometers would not exhibit a positive
head should the filter drain the reservoir seepage adequately. Rainwater was naturally a suspected source,
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but the managers of the dam had found that water leakage was about 1000 104m3 every year. Therefore,
the source of the leakage emerging on the shell of the dam is still uncertain. Comprehensive
investigation is necessary to determine the possible path of the leakage, but the identification of leakage
source is the top priority.
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temperature of its recharge water source. Temperature of groundwater would be influenced When aquifers
intake environmental water recharge. This “temperature anomaly” phenomenon can be used to investigate
potential leakage sources of a dam.
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Fig.2b. distribution of temperature and electrical conduction (EC) of water in hole 9.
(the depth of hole 9 had been deepened form 80 m to 165m, Modified from Ge Jian, 2005[11])
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H value of water sample in hole 9 was 18.46 TU which is close to that of reservoir water. The
distribution of temperature and electrical conduction of water in hole 9 was show in Fig.2. Temperature
in hole 9 was relatively low. In addition, the groundwater level in the hole had rapid response to the
reservoir water level. With artificial tracing detection and interconnection test, it was found a big
leakage passage existed between hole 11 and hole 9.
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