Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Hosted by
Black & Veatch Corporation
GEI Consultants, Inc.
Kleinfelder, Inc.
MWH Americas, Inc.
Parsons Water and Infrastructure Inc.
URS Corporation
On the Cover
Artist's rendition of San Vicente Dam after completion of the dam raise project to increase local storage and provide
a more flexible conveyance system for use during emergencies such as earthquakes that could curtail the regions
imported water supplies. The existing 220-foot-high dam, owned by the City of San Diego, will be raised by 117
feet to increase reservoir storage capacity by 152,000 acre-feet. The project will be the tallest dam raise in the
United States and tallest roller compacted concrete dam raise in the world.
The information contained in this publication regarding commercial projects or firms may not be used for
advertising or promotional purposes and may not be construed as an endorsement of any product or
from by the United States Society on Dams. USSD accepts no responsibility for the statements made
or the opinions expressed in this publication.
Copyright 2011 U.S. Society on Dams
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011924673
ISBN 978-1-884575-52-5
U.S. Society on Dams
1616 Seventeenth Street, #483
Denver, CO 80202
Telephone: 303-628-5430
Fax: 303-628-5431
E-mail: stephens@ussdams.org
Internet: www.ussdams.org
1479
200 meter high central core, rock-fill dam which is the 12th highest dam of its kind in the
world. Often called a national flagship project for the Philippines, in addition to
providing flood control and irrigation, the SRMP supplies clean hydroelectric power for
commercial and industrial use to a region that desperately needs it. In 1998, URS was
awarded contracts totaling $705 million for the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) work
by San Roque Power Corporation, an international consortium led by United States-based
Sithe Energies, and presently under the joint venture of Marubeni and Kansai Electric.
San Roque Power worked under a build-operate-transfer contract with the state-run
National Power Corporation.
The dam, spillway and powerhouse and appurtenant structures were constructed entirely
by URS owned equipment and staff composed of 80 expatriate employees and as many as
4,000 local Pilipino workers. The Project was designed by URS Office staffs in New
York and Bellevue, Washington, as well as local site support staff at the Project Site.
Major project features include:
An earth and rockfill dam, 200 meters high. The dam consists of 41 million cubic
meters of combined gravel fill and rockfill shell zones, filter, drain and transition
zones and an impermeable core.
A concrete spillway with six 15-meter-wide by 18.6-meter-high radial gates, and
a 485-meter-long, 100-meter-wide concrete chute ending in a flip bucket. The
spillway is designed to pass 12,800 cms.
A power tunnel, 8.5 meters in diameter and 1,300 meters long which includes a
pair of wheel gates in a shaft near the intake to shut off flow, a surge shaft for
control of hydraulic gradients and a steel-lined high-pressure segment.
A low-level outlet tunnel, 5.5 meters in diameter, 1,300 meters long with an
intake and flow control by a set of slide gates near the dam centerline.
Three diversion tunnels, two which are 10 meters wide by 15 meters high and one
which is 6 meters wide by 6 meters high.
Below ground powerhouse with three 137 MW turbine generators.
Electrical substation and nine kilometer long 230 kW transmission line.
In addition to the dams production of non-polluting hydroelectric power, its five-squaremile reservoir serves as a settling basin that entraps sediment above the dam, thus
improving water quality below the dam. These project features are shown on the
accompanying photograph.
1480
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
General Geology
The San Roque Multipurpose Project is located on the southern flank of the Central
Cordillera, the mountain highlands that make up the northwestern part of the island of
Luzon. The project takes advantage of the major change in topography at the southern
edge of the Cordillera where the Agno River flows from a steep, narrow-walled canyon
in the mountains out into the relatively flat Central Valley basin of Pangasinan Province.
The basement rocks of the southern part the Central Cordillera include pre-Tertiary
phyllite, schist, plutonic rocks, pillow basalt, chert, and a variety of clastic rocks. The
specific lithologies and deformational history of this sequence varies widely throughout
the region. Overlying the basement complex are probable Eocene to lower Miocene
volcanic rocks composed of andesite flows, basalt flows, and breccias and other
pyroclastic rocks intercalated with chert, argillite, sandstone, and conglomerate, known as
the Pugo Formation. Both of these rock sequences have been intruded by Tertiary
plutons, generally middle Oligocene to late Miocene. Deformation associated with the
intrusives has locally deformed the Pugo Formation. A thick, early Miocene to
Pleistocene, sedimentary section with some volcanic components is draped over the
southern and western flanks of the Central Cordillera and is present as the Klondyke
Formation in limited areas at the project. A number of early Quaternary intrusive rocks
are associated with the extensive mineralization that has been exploited in the Baguio
district in the upper reaches of the reservoir.
1481
Most of the major project structures (dam, spillway, and most of the tunnels) are founded
on or excavated in metamorphosed volcanic, sedimentary, and volcaniclastic rocks,
probably equivalent to the Pugo Formation. Various diorite intrusions of the Agno
Batholith are also present, especially in the powerhouse area, on the left bank of the river
at its last major bend between the dam and the powerhouse, and in the spillway chute
area. The Klondyke Formation forms a sedimentary sequence of conglomerates,
sandstones, and claystones that thickens down dip south and east of the dam.
Bedrock at the dam is primarily volcanic and volcaniclastic rock, which has been subject
to low grade metamorphism and intruded by diorite. The dominant foundation rock type
is metamorphosed volcanic breccia, with minor intercalations of fine-grained
metavolcanic/metasedimentary rocks. Numerous joints are infilled with calcite, quartz,
and other minerals.
Pleistocene to Recent alluvial channel deposits of the Agno River are found in the steep
narrow-walled canyon where the dam is located as well as in the broad valley
downstream. Alluvial terrace deposits of the Agno River and alluvial fan deposits from
tributary drainages are also present along the sides of the riverbed in some areas.
Landslide deposits are also widespread upstream in reservoir and along the front of the
Central Cordillera, most notably east of the powerhouse.
Abutments
The abutments of the dam are primarily underlain by volcanic breccia with minor
amounts of metavolcanic/metasedimentary rocks. The diorite intrusion crops out at the
surface in only a few places, but is present in the subsurface of the left abutment and has
probably contributed to the alteration of the volcanic breccia by contact metamorphism or
the source of hydrothermal fluids. Both abutments had a significant thickness of
overburden, consisting of soil and completely weathered rock. The overburden thickness
ranged from more than 20 meters on the upper left abutment to zero where slightly
weathered rock crops out along the left bank of the Agno River. In general, the
overburden was thicker on the left abutment than the right abutment, where soil and
completely weathered rock was generally 5 to 15 meters thick.
Below the overburden, the volcanic breccia of the dam abutments generally becomes
highly weathered. The rock has significant cohesion. Joints and other structures are
measurable in the rock. They are generally tight but can be open with or without filling.
Although weathering intensity generally decreases with depth, the weathering profile is
highly variable. Weathering appears to be controlled by permeable fractures and zones of
relatively competent rock are underlain by moderately to highly weathered material.
The crystalline bedrock at the dam site exhibits varying degrees of fracturing as a result
of the stresses associated with tectonic history. In general, the meta-volcanic and metasedimentary rock and the volcanic breccia are more highly fractured than the diorite unit.
In most locations, more than 3 joint sets can be observed. Joint spacing for each joint set
varies from about 2 to 20 cm. The most highly fractured areas are often at the margins of
1482
1483
1484
Stitch grouting was used for treatment of features such as a shear or fracture zone in a
pattern of holes designed to intersect that feature at various depths at angles favorable to
grout penetration. Stitch grouting was done from the surface and extends the full width of
the core trench if the feature is a significant seepage pathway. Stitch grouting was
performed for the full core trench width in the 20 and 30 meter wide shear zones in the
riverbed portion of the core trench.
Embankment Section As Constructed
The general arrangement and dimensions of the zones within the embankment dam are
shown on the typical section on Figure 1. The maximum height of the dam from the core
trench to the crest is 200 meters. Both the upstream and downstream slopes are 2H:1V.
The crest width is 12 meters and the width of the core at the top is 6 meters. The central
impervious core has an upstream and downstream slopes of 0.2H:1.0V.
Zone 1
Zone 1A
Zone 1B
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7A
Zone 7B
1485
Zone 8
Zone 5/7B
Zone 6/7B
Zone 6/7A
Riprap
Shell (co-mingled with alluvium and rockfill)
Shell (co-mingled with alluvium and rockfill)
Shell (co-mingled with alluvium and rockfill)
Most of the embankment piezometers and settlement cells are located at five different
elevations along four lines perpendicular to the dam axis. The four lines are at dam
station 5+00, 7+00, 9+25, and 11+00. Station 9+25 is near the maximum section of the
dam. Foundation piezometers are located in the grouting galleries underneath the dam in
holes oriented upstream and downstream of the grout curtain. Additional abutment
piezometers are located in the gallery access adits (Figure 9). Flow measurement stations
are located in the galleries, adits, and at the downstream collector pipe near the toe of the
dam. Movement survey monuments are located on the surface of the dam. A plan view
and cross-sections of the instrument locations are shown on Figures 3 through 7.
1487
1488
1489
The vibrating wire (VW) piezometer is an accurate piezometer that is relatively easy to
install and monitor. The VW piezometer converts water pressure into a frequency signal
via a diaphragm, a tensioned steel wire, and an electro-magnetic coil. The instrument is
designed so that a change in pressure on the diaphragm causes a change in tension of the
wire. When excited by the electro-magnetic coil, the wire vibrates at its natural
frequency. The vibration of the wire in the proximity of the magnetic coil generates a
frequency signal that is transmitted to the readout device. The readout device processes
the signal, applies calibration factors, and displays a reading in the required engineering
unit. A total of 27 VW piezometers were installed at various levels in the dam. Twentyfive additional VW piezometers were installed in the upstream holes drilled from the
galleries.
Pneumatic Piezometers
1490
Open standpipe piezometers were installed along the downstream toe of the dam to
measure pore water pressure in the abutments. Four open standpipe piezometers were
installed at locations shown on Figure 3. The open standpipe piezometers included a drill
hole approximately 15 meters deep, 75 mm diameter and having a PVC pipe extending
approximately 0.5 meters above grade. The PVC pipe extends into and was grouted into
the hole.
Pressure gages piezometers were installed at three locations in the dam and spillway
drainage galleries. These pressure gage piezometers were primarily oriented downstream
of the gallery.
A section view showing location of the gallery piezometers is shown on Figure 8.
1491
system consists of drain holes drilled from within the grouting galleries under the dam.
The galleries run primarily along the centerline of the dam. Water collected in the
galleries and access adits flow by gravity to flow measuring stations. Several flow
measurement stations are provided within the galleries to isolate and measure the quantity
and locations of leakage at specific points along the gallery. The locations of the flow
measurement stations are shown on Figure 9.
Seepage through the dam is collected along the inclined drain zone adjacent to the core
and collected by the blanket drain beneath the downstream shell. This flow is conveyed
to a buried collection pipe system just beyond the toe of the dam where it is measured by
a weir.
The projects drainage collection system was sized to accommodate a total of 320 liters /
second (l/s), which includes an allowance for rainfall infiltration, natural groundwater,
and backflow from tailwater. One hundred-fifty l/s was assumed to flow into the
galleries and adits and 170 l/s into the embankment drain zones.
1492
1493
1494
predicted by design computations for steady state conditions for piezometers located in
the maximum section of the dam at Station 9+25 are summarized in Table 1. Monitoring
data from these piezometers are discussed below in Evaluation and Performance.
Table 1. Maximum Section (Station 9+25) Piezometric Design Levels
Piezometer No.
Location
VWP - 11
VWP - 12
VWP - 13
VWP - 14
VWP - 15
VWP - 16
VWP - 17
VWP - 18
VWP - 19
VWP - 20
VWP - 21
VWP - 22
Core
Core
Core
Core
Core
Shell
Shell
Core
Core
Shell
Shell
Shell
Distance from
Axis
(m)
5
8
20
10
30
80
175
10
40
125
225
330
Tip Elevation
(m)
Design Head
(m)
240.0
184.6
184.5
131.3
131.4
130.4
131.1
102.5
103.4
106.7
106.5
105.8
280
280
224
274
174
108
108
274
124
108
108
108
Seepage
Seepage analyses were performed using the two-dimensional finite element computer
program SEEP/W (Geo-Slope International Ltd., 1998). Numerous analyses were
performed as the design and construction was advanced.
Two-dimensional finite element analysis models were developed for several selected
transverse sections along the length of the dam. Total seepage through the dam and
foundation was obtained by using the end-area method to extrapolate two-dimensional
results at each cross section and summing them along the axis of the dam.
For the initial analysis, four sections were selected to represent the dam, the arrangement
of the drainage gallery, variations in foundation excavation geometry and foundation
stratigraphy. Permeability values for various zones within the bedrock foundation were
initially estimated based on field permeability testing of borings, performed as part of the
foundation core drilling exploration program at selected locations within the main dam
footprint area. With the completion of the construction of the dam, but prior to reservoir
filling, the designers availed themselves to as-built excavation topography and extensive
water pressure test data obtained from Primary (P) and Verification (V) grout holes to
better model pre- and post-grouted rock permeabilities, respectively. Therefore, as the
design and construction advanced, the number of representative sections was increased,
ultimately up to fifteen, to accommodate the actual foundation excavation geometry,
expanded subsurface information obtained from foundation mapping, water pressure test
results from foundation grout holes, and changes to the embankment cross section and
drainage gallery arrangement. The seepage prediction analysis results described herein
are for the final post-construction, pre-filling as-built conditions.
1495
The permeability values, calculated from the field exploration permeability tests and P
and V grout hole pressure testing were plotted, by dam station, versus depth in order to
evaluate the grouted and ungrouted rock permeability values representative of each
analysis cross section. The permeability values, calculated from the field permeability
tests performed within each section, were evaluated versus depth and representative
values for analysis were selected for ungrouted rock. The anisotrophy ratio was assumed
to be 1.0 for all rock material. The results are summarized in the following Table 2.
Table 2. Representative Permeability Values for Ungrouted Foundation Materials
Station
2+50 to 6+00
6+00 to 8+12.5
8+12.5 to 9+00
9+00 to 10+37.5
10+37.5 to 13+80
13+80 to 15+00
Depths (m)
0 - 20
20 60
60 110
>110
0 20
20 35
>35
0 - 30
30 50
>50
0 30
>30
0 30
30 75
>75
0 30
30 75
>75
Permeability (cm/sec)
1x10-3
3x10-4
1x10-4
2x10-5
3x10-4
2x10-4
8x10-5
6x10-4
1x10-4
5x10-5
2x10-4
5x10-5
3x10-4
2x10-4
4x10-5
3x10-4
2x10-4
4x10-5
Again, it should be reiterated that these are the values used in the final as-built analysis.
Leading up to this analysis were numerous other analyses that also examined lower and
upper bound ungrouted rock permeability ranges versus depth.
The original permeability (hydraulic conductivity) goals for the consolidation grout zone
and curtain grout zone were 20 Lugeons and 10 Lugeons, respectively and were based on
early grouting test section results. These values were used in the earlier seepage
analyses. The as-built analysis used grouted rock permeability coefficients that were
determined from V grout hole pressure testing results. Final as-built grouted rock
permeabilities of 2.64x10-4 cm/sec. (20 Lugeons) and 6.6x10-5 cm/sec. (5 Lugeons) were
used in the consolidation grout zone and curtain grout zone, respectively.
The two impervious core zone materials, Zone 1 and 1B, were modeled with permeability
coefficients of 2.0x10-8 cm/sec. and 5.0x10-7 cm/sec., respectively. These values were
based on laboratory determinations in accordance with ASTM D-5084. The anisotropy
ratio (the ratio of the hydraulic conductivity in the horizontal direction to the vertical
direction) was assumed as 2.0 for Zone 1 and 5.0 for Zone 1B and were based on
specified compaction methods.
1496
The total seepage was estimated based on fifteen selected analysis sections. The end
area method was used to compute the total seepage between sections. The first and last
sections with assumed seepage equal to zero were STA 2+50 on the left abutment and
STA 15+00 on the right abutment. Calculated seepage rates are summarized in Table 3
by station interval and by seepage collection feature (i.e. drainage gallery segment and
blanket drain). The predicted combined gallery flow was calculated to be 240 l/sec.
Similarly, the predicted downstream blanket drain flow was calculated to be 67 l/sec. for
a combined predicted seepage rate of 307 l/sec.
Table 3. As Built Seepage Analysis Results
Station Interval
2+50 to 4+00
4+00 to 5+00
5+00 to 6+00
6+00 to 6+70
6+70 to 7+00
7+00 to 8+00
8+00 to 8+12.5
8+12.5 to 9+00
9+00 10+00
10+00 to 10+37.5
10+37.5 to 11+50
11+50 to 13+00
13+00 to 13+80
13+80 to 14+50
14+50 to 15+00
Total Seepage by
Collection Feature
(l/sec.)
Total Gallery
Seepage (l/sec.)
Total Downstream
Blanket Seepage
(l/sec.)
Combined Total
Seepage (l/sec.)
Upper
Left
Gallery
(l/sec.)
16.5
27.0
53.5
97.0
Lower Left
Gallery
(l/sec.)
Upper Right
Gallery
(l/sec.)
Lower Right
Gallery
(l/sec.)
Downstream
Blanket Drain
(l/sec.)
17.2
17.2
42.8
15.5
8.3
6.1
72.7
9.7
43.7
53.4
2.9
0.7
0.0
8.1
6.3
19.2
2.2
9.0
15.5
0.5
2.5
0.1
67
240
-
67
307
Deformation
Long term deformation of the dam was evaluated for final design by two methods: 1)
review of data related to the long term deformation of large dams with features similar to
San Roque Dam, and 2) determine the rough magnitude of long term consolidation
settlement of the core zone using Terzaghis one-dimensional consolidation theory.
1497
The results of the first approach (case history study) were used to calibrate numerical
static stress and deformation analyses of the dam. Because of the many limiting
assumptions related to pore water pressure generation during construction, onedimensional consolidation modeling, and the variability associated with large-scale
placement and field compaction of cohesive soils, it is generally accepted that numerical
models tend to overestimate the magnitude of post-construction deformation of dam
cores. A more pragmatic and reliable approach to evaluating the effects of core
deformation (and the associated redistribution of stresses) was adopted that considered
case histories of post-construction settlement of dams coupled with stress analysis using a
well-validated generalized soil constitutive model.
Well-documented case histories of the long-term settlement behavior of rockfill dams
with finer-grained cores (Dascal 1987, Clements 1984, Kollgaard and Chadwick 1988)
among others) served as the basis of the case history study. Approximately 90 case
histories were initially considered, and of these, fifteen were judged to be similar enough
to San Roque Dam to be included in the deformation evaluation. The selected case
histories were generally similar to San Roque Dam in core, shell, and foundation
materials; dam height; and the construction technique. The soil compaction effort for San
Roque was judged to be higher than those of the older dams. Therefore, settlement
estimates based on case histories were somewhat conservative to use for this project.
The case history data indicated that dams with characteristics similar to the San Roque
dam typically experience long term (about 40 years) maximum vertical strains
(settlement per unit height) of about 0.4 percent. Based on this evaluation of performance
of existing dams similar to San Roque, long-term post-construction vertical strains of the
dam core were predicted to be on the order of 0.5 percent at the maximum station 9+00
(1m). These strains were expected to decrease to close to 0 percent near the abutments of
the dam. Although it was believed that long-term vertical strains will be limited to about
0.5 percent, to assess the sensitivity of the results and possible variation in total
settlement, the stress analysis were performed considering 1.0 percent vertical strain
(2m).
The results of the second approach (consolidation settlement analysis) are known to
overestimate long term consolidation settlement of central core embankment dams;
however the analysis was performed to obtain an upper bound settlement value for
comparison to the results computed using more detailed long term deformation analysis
techniques.
A one-dimensional long-term consolidation settlement analysis was performed on the
longitudinal profile of the dam. The analysis was performed using a spreadsheet to
determine the order of magnitude of long-term consolidation settlement using Terzaghis
one-dimensional consolidation theory. Compression index values (CC) were determined
from laboratory testing and used as input for the spreadsheet. Consolidation settlement of
the core was calculated at 14 stations. At each of the stations, the core was divided into
sublayers with heights corresponding to the height of core elements along the central axis
of finite element models. The results of the analysis using the range of Cc values
1498
predicted that total long term settlement of the core would vary from 1.4 to 3.1 meters, at
stations 8+50 to 10+00 (closest to the maximum section). An average value of 2 meters
was chosen to account for the long term consolidation settlement of the dam.
Camber was incorporated into the embankment design geometry to account for potential
earthquake-induced deformations of the crest of the dam and long-term static
deformation caused by consolidation of core material. In order to compute camber, the
estimated long-term deformation was added to the maximum anticipated dynamic
deformation. Details regarding the earthquake-induced deformation computation
analyses are outside the scope of this paper. The results of the analyses indicate a
maximum dynamic deformation of 0.5 m and approximately 2.0 m of long-term static
deformation, for a cumulative total of 2.5 m. Therefore, in addition to 15 m of freeboard
above the normal operating reservoir elevation 280, the crest of the dam was constructed
with a maximum 2.5 m of camber in the center of the dam.
EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE
Performance During First Filling
Impoundment of the reservoir began on August 8, 2002 with closure of diversion tunnels
2 and 3. Diversion Tunnel No. 1 was permanently closed earlier in the year. As of
November 15, 2002, the reservoir had filled to elevation 268.8, about 11.2 meters below
the normal maximum operating pool of elevation 280.0. The reservoir did not meet the
design maximum pool until the 2003 wet season.
Evaluation of monitoring program data at the end of 2002 indicated that the dam and its
foundations performed as anticipated during the first impoundment of the reservoir, and
there were no concerns with respect to the performance and safety of the dam. The
following observations were made based on the inspections and data obtained at that
time:
A number of the piezometers in the core were then responding to reservoir filling. A
steady state condition had not yet been established but the trend was in that direction.
The downstream shell piezometers indicated that drainage occurred with essentially
no increase in piezometric head.
The piezometers in the foundation indicated head loss generally in accordance with
the seepage analyses.
Total seepage from the galleries, as of November 15, 2002, is approximately 55 l/s;
seepage at the downstream toe of the dam is about 127 l/s. These flow rates were
reasonable and acceptable considering the geology of the site. There was some
indication, based on the response of the core piezometers, that the recent increase in
the seepage flow rate at the toe of the dam was the result of the normal development
of saturation and seepage through the core.
The maximum vertical settlement measured to date (November 2002) at the crest of
the dam is 309 mm. This settlement was considerably less than the 2.5 meters of
1499
camber and is well within the anticipated post-construction settlement after six
months of the dam being completed.
No indication of longitudinal cracking at the upstream edge of the crest was observed
as a result of saturation of the upstream shell.
In 2003, the reservoir reached full operating level several times, and was above normal
operating level of elevation 280, for short periods during extreme typhoon events.
Evaluation of monitoring program data at the end of 2003 again indicated that the dam
and its foundations performed as anticipated during the first impoundment of the
reservoir, and there were no concerns with respect to the performance and safety of the
dam. The following observations were made based on the inspections and data obtained
at that time:
The piezometers in the core have responded to reservoir filling. A steady state
condition has not yet been established in some lower piezometers, but the trend is in
that direction.
The downstream shell piezometers indicated that drainage occurs with no increase in
piezometric head.
The piezometers in the foundation indicated head loss generally in accordance with
the seepage analyses.
Total seepage from the galleries, as of October 14, 2003, was approximately 80 l/s;
seepage at the downstream toe of the dam was about 88 l/s. These flow rates were
reasonable and acceptable considering the geology of the site. There was some
indication, based on the response of the total seepage, that the slight decrease in the
seepage flow rate from the galleries was a result of calcification or natural sealing of
the rock fractures. In addition, the recent reduction of the toe drain seepage recorded,
was a result of the drier weather conditions being experienced over the past few
weeks.
The maximum vertical settlement measured to date at the crest of the dam was 443
mm. This settlement was considerably less than the 2.5 meters of camber and was
well within the anticipated post-construction settlement after 17 months of the dam
being completed.
No indication of longitudinal cracking at the upstream edge of the crest was observed
as a result of saturation of the upstream shell.
Following first filling in November 2003, it was concluded that there were redundancies
in the instruments designed into the dam instrumentation system, in particular, the
piezometers and the settlement devices. The purpose of these instruments was for use
during construction and first filling of the reservoir. Based on the piezometer redundancy
and the fact that the vibrating wire piezometers were performing well, the non-working
pneumatic piezometers were decommissioned based on recommendations from the Board
of Consultants. Since the pneumatic piezometers were the redundant instruments, it was
concluded that if or when the remainder do not perform then they should also be
decommissioned. These instruments are no longer read. In addition, since the shell
piezometers were indicating little or no water pressure, all of the reading frequency was
reduced read to bi-monthly.
1500
Evaluation of monitoring data also indicated that the internal settlement cells were not
performing properly. It also appeared that the dam settlements, as measured by the
external settlement monuments, were consistent and valid, and were approaching stable
values. Since the internal settlement cells were intended to measure settlement of the dam
during construction and first filling, it was concluded that the usefulness of the internal
settlement cells was in question, and the internal settlement cells were decommissioned
upon recommendation of the Board of Consultants. Subsequently, the monitoring of
deformation for long term conditions has relied on the external settlement monuments.
Long Term Performance
Pore Water Pressure: Vibrating wire piezometers are installed at various elevations in the
downstream portion of the embankment core and in the downstream shell (Figures 11
through 13). Piezometers in the core quickly responded to the filling of the reservoir and
mimic the rising and falling levels of the reservoir. Data from the piezometers in the core
show head levels that are consistently less than the phreatic surface assumed for the
design analyses. For the vibrating wire piezometers in the shell, the piezometers indicated
constant stable readings near the design assumption, indicating the internal drain is
functioning as intended by the deign with no increase in piezometric head in the
downstream shell zone of the dam.
Table 4 lists the highest reading for the calendar year for vibrating wire piezometers in
the core and shell zones where data is continually available since the beginning of
reservoir filling operations. The core piezometers show an increase with reservoir filling
and then stabilization over time. Water levels in the shell are typically dry or respond to
precipitation and rises in the tailwater level. The 2010 water levels in these piezometers
are shown on Figure 11. Superimposed on this figure is the estimated phreatic surface
calculated during design using the Casagrande method. This level can be compared to
the 2010 measured levels.
1501
Figure 11. 2010 Water Levels in Core and Shell, Station 9+25
1502
Elevation
(m)
240
184.5
131.3
102.5
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
254
208
183
112
260
218
212
163
259
216
217
172
258
216
216
172
260
213
211
178
259
210
207
179
259
210
206
179
263
210
207
183
256
208
201
181
130.35
106.53
105.76
130
109
108
130
108
108
130
107
113
130
106
108
130
105
107
130
105
107
130
105
107
131
105
109
131
105
107
1503
1504
Location
GP-12-50-D
GP-12-20-D
GP-12-60-U
GP-12-50-U
GP-12-20-U
GP-13-70-D
GP-13-50-D
GP-13-20-D
GP-13-60-U
GP-13-50-U
GP-13-20-U
8+85
8+85
8+85
8+85
8+85
9+00
9+00
9+00
9+00
9+00
9+00
Piezometric Head
at Tip (m)
October 29, 2002
157.46
152.30
120.54
145.76
185.02
126.62
141.10
178.69
165.13
177.16
198.77
Piezometric Head
at Tip (m)
October 29, 2010
138.16
137.13
102.11
130.19
173.71
114.90
127.31
169.04
168.31
135.33
189.14
Analysis Piezometric
Head at Tip
(m)
130
160
130
150
190
90
130
170
160
170
190
Seepage: The long term, total seepage reflects the reservoir level with the total amount of
seepage decreasing over time and appears to be approaching steady-state conditions.
Total seepage from first filling to February 2010 is shown on Figure 14. Total seepage
consists of flow measured from the galleries and the toe drain. The monitoring data
shows that the total flow has gradually decreased over time with a maximum flow of 220
l/s in 2002 to a low value of 100 l/s in 2008. The total flow in 2009 spiked to 190 l/s;
however, this increase is due to infiltration from extremely high precipitation that
influenced the toe drain readings. The gallery seepage has also had a net decrease over
time. There is some indication that the decrease in the seepage flow rate from the
galleries is a result of calcification or natural sealing of the rock fractures. In the upper
left grouting gallery, a limited remedial grouting program was conducted in areas of very
high seepage which resulted in a reduction of the inflow. Table 6 shows the decrease in
seepage over time. Seepage quantities reflect highest measured amounts per calendar year
at high reservoir levels. The high value for the toe drain in 2004 reflects high
precipitation.
Location
Toe Drain
Galleries
Total
2010
36
41
77
1505
1506
1507
Instrumentation Engineer and Mr. Raymund Mariano SRPC Engineering Manager, for
their help in providing the monitoring data and reviewing this paper.
REFERENCES
San Roque Power Corporation, Weekly Reports of Instrumentation Results, from 2002 to
2010.
San Roque Consulting Panel, San Roque Multipurpose Project, SRPC Consulting Panel
Meeting No. 12, July 17, 2002.
San Roque Consulting Panel, San Roque Multipurpose Project, SRPC Consulting Panel
Meeting No. 13, November 18, 2002.
San Roque Consulting Panel, San Roque Multipurpose Project, SRPC Consulting Panel
Meeting No. 14, October 26, 2003.
United Engineers International, Inc., Addendum 1, Design Statement Level 2, Main
Dam Embankment, for the San Roque Multipurpose Project for the San Roque Power
Corporation, July 2000.
United Engineers International, Inc., Instrumentation Monitoring and Inspection Manual,
for the San Roque Multipurpose Project for the San Roque Power Corporation, August
2002.
1509