Abstract
The Baihetan super-high arch dam is constructed under complicated geological conditions, including large-scale columnar jointed basalt (CJB) with closely spaced joints and multiple interlayer and intralayer shear belts at the lower part of dam base, which may increase a risk of seepage in adjacent dam foundations. Therefore, curtain grouting is used to reduce the permeability of dam foundations. Lugeon and grouting field tests and geological exploration were carried out to investigate curtain grouting characteristics of the dam foundation. The findings were as follows: (1) the permeability coefficient of the first type of CJB and breccia lava without unloading is 2 × 10−5 ~ 5 × 10−5 cm/s; that of the second type of CJB without unloading is 2.5 × 10−5 ~ 5 × 10−5 cm/s; and that of the unloaded third type of massive basalt is 1 × 10−5 ~ 3 × 10−5 cm/s. (2) The rock core shows that the slurry caused repeated splitting of the rock mass and widened the cracks of the rock mass, which resulted in plastic deformation of the rock mass. The P ~ Q curve of the five-point Lugeon test shows that the curve shape is turbulent and that the maximum Lugeon value appears at the highest pressure. (3) The phenomenon of low-permeability conditions with a large grout take can be frequently observed. The proportion of the hole stages with a water permeability less than 1 LU and grout take greater than 50 kg/m ranges from 12.5 to 37.5%. The proportion of holes with permeability greater than 10 Lu and grout take greater than 50 kg/m is 0 to 12.5%. The findings from this case study can provide a reference for engineering construction.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to our partner Sinohydro Bureau 8 Co., Ltd., in China. The authors are also grateful to the China Three Gorges Corporation. This paper summarizes the results of the investigation and analysis performed over the past several years on CJBs at the Baihetan arch dam, combining the findings of all the companies and institutions participating in this project, including its design and construction, as well as many experts and scholars both at home and abroad. We hereby express our gratitude to all the organizations and individuals involved.
Funding
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51809253 and 51279019).
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Dou, J., Zhang, G., Zhou, M. et al. Curtain grouting experiment in a dam foundation: case study with the main focus on the Lugeon and grout take tests. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79, 4527–4547 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01865-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01865-0