Eurock '93, Ribeiro e Sousa & Grossmann (eds) © 1995 Balkema, Rotterdam, ISBN 90 5410 339 6

Ageing of concrete dam foundations

Vieillissement des fondations des barrages en beton
Alterung von Betonstaumauerfundamenten
1.0. Pedro, A. Mascarenhas & H.s.Silva
Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil, Lisboa, Portugal

ABSTRACT: The concept of ageing of dams and their appurtenant works as a class of deterioration is pre-sented. The
major ageing scenarios concerning the rock mass foundations of concrete dams are indicated, with particular reference
to scenarios of erosion and dissolution of rock masses, and of degradation of grout curtains and drainage systems.
Methods developed to control such scenarios in Portuguese dams are referred to.

RESUME: Le concept de vieillissement des barrages et leurs ouvrages annexes en tant qu'une classe de dete-rioration
est presente. Les scenarios de vieillissement majeurs concernantles fondations en massif roeheux des barrages en beton
sent indiques, avec une reference particuliere a des scenarios d'erosion et dissolution des massifs roeheux, et de
degradation des voiles d'injection et systernes de drainage. Des methodes develop-pees pour controler de tels scenarios
dans des barrages portugais sont mentionnees.

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Das Konzept del' Alterung del' Talsperren und ihrer Nebenanlagen als eine Ver-fallsklasse
wird vorgestellt. Die die Felsfundamente von Betonstaumauern betreffenden Hauptalterungsszenari-en werden
angegeben, mit besonderer Erwahnung del' Szenarien del' Erosion und Losung von Felsen, und des Verfalls von
Injektionsschirmen und Dransysternen. Zur Kontrolle solcher Szenarien in portugiesisehen Talsperren entwickelte
Methoden, werden angefuhrl.

INTRODUCTION design, construction and operation.

Deterioration which occurs after this initial
Dams arc important structures for water period is considered ageing [6, 9J.
managcment, therefore their safety and To prevent and control ageing it is
perfomanee is a major concern for those necessary to understand the phenomena
involved in thci r design, construction and (through its causes-effects and possible
Operation. This subject has been also a major consequences) leading to the dcve lopmcnt of
COncern for the International Society for ageing i. e.. the ageing scenarios.
Rock Mechanics (ISRM), the International The causes of the ageing scenarios are
Commission on Large Dams (lCOLD) and other associated to initial conditions, design,
entities [I to 7]. construction, operation and maintenance of
Dams should be safe, to prevent accidents the works. They act through structural
and suited for thc intended usc, to prevent properties (geometric. hydraulic, thermic,
ineidcnts. Safety and perfomance should be chemical and mechanical) and actions, and
fulfillcd along the lifctimc (durability) at originate direct effects (seepage through the
acceptable cost of construction, opcration and dam and foundation, flow, temperature
maintenance [8, 9. 10]. variations. forces, strains and displacements)
Deterioration (accidents and incidents) may as well as the eventual corresponding
be caused by exceptional unforeseen events consequences (erosion and dissolution,
(floods, earthquakes. etc.) or may accumulate abrasion, cavitation, thermal degradation).
with time under normal operation conditions, The above indicated mechanical direct effects
Owing to usc, material alterations and (applied forces. strains and displacements)
cnvironment. Deterioration occurring until originate in turn indirect structural effects
the end of the initial period of the operation (displacements, strains and stresses) and the
stage (5 years) is assumed to be congenital or corresponding eventual consequences
first age and attributed to malfunctions of (overturning, heaving. settlement, cracking,

1089
crushing or sliding) [6. 9]. chemical actions predominate. leading to
In this paper, the major ageing scenarios lixiviation of joint fillings and rock surfaces
concerning concrete and masonry dam in contact with water. Permeability, strength
foundations arc presented. Particular and deformability of the rock mass may be
attention is given to scenarios of erosion and affected.
dissolution of the rock mass foundations and Ageing of grout curtains is mainly caused:
of degradation of grout curtains and drainage by deterioration of rock masses. due to
systems. A brief mention is made to the mechanical actions related to scenario I); and
Portuguese experience in monitoring such by mechanical and chemical erosion of the
scenarios. grout curtain materials (cements. resins. ctc.),
due to actions related to scenario 2). Ageing of
drainage systems is mainly caused: by
MAJOR AGEING SCENARIOS CONCERNING DAM progressive scaling of drains or rock mass.
FOUNDATIONS which leads to a decrease in the drainage
capacity and possibly to uplift increase; or by
The major ageing scenarios of dams and saturation of the drainage network. which
appurtenant works (concrete. masonry. leads to unefficient discharge and uplift
earthfill and rockfill structures) were increase. Ageing of grout curtains and
selected, illustrated and characterized by the drainage systems change the hydraulic and
ICOLD Committee on Ageing of Dams [6]. The mechanical behaviour of the foundation,
work of this Committee was based on the affecting the performance and even the
analysis of 980 case-histories on ageing of safety conditions.
dams. obtained by adding new information to
that assembled in previous ICOLD reports [3. 4.
5]. AGEING DUE TO PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PHENO-
The major ageing scenarios concerning the MENA. PORTUGUESE EXPERIENCE
rock mass foundation of concrete and
masonry dam foundations are: I) loss of In Portugal there are in operation 56 large
strength under permanent and repeated concrete dams and 4 large masonry dams of
actions; 2) erosion and dissolution; 3) ageing the following types: massive and hollow
of grout curtains and of drainage systems. gravity (27). overflow (9). cylindrical arch
About 52% of the case histories assembled on (6). double curvature arch (12), buttress (4)
ageing of foundations of concrete and and multi-arch (2). These dams are founded on
masonry dams concern scenario I), 15% granites (47%). on schist-grcywackcs (50%)
concern scenario 2) and 33% concern and on quartzites (3%). Monitoring systems
scenario 3) [6]. were installed in most of Portuguese concrete
Loss of strength under permanent and and masonry large dams.
repeated actions (scenario I) is mainly caused To control the ageing scenarios caused by
by the cycles of stresses and hydraulic physico-chemical phenomena associated with
gradients imposed by the variation of the seepage of water, the following methods arc
reservoir level and by the structural effects used: I) visual inspection of the materials
of temperature variations. Foundation deposited at the outlet of drains and
deformation. movement and opening of joints resurgences. and of the vegetation
and fractures of the rock mass will develop. downstream; 2) measurement of drained flows
Permanent components of these effects, and resurgences. uplift. phreatic level. solid
together with alteration in the filling of suspension in drained waters, and physico-
fractures (including products of grout -chemical analysis of reservoir water and
curtains, binding and consolidation) lead with drained water. Sometimes, geophysical and
timc to decompression of foundation, permeability tests arc also carried out.
displacement and rotation of dam footing. and Lixiviation rates Td (mg/min) are computed
increase in seepage and uplift. Erosion. from the measured values of the drained Ilow
instability of fractured zones, st r c s s (Q l/min) and from the ionic concentrations
redistributions as well as degradation of grout in water: (Cr mg/I) for the concentration of
curtains and of drainage systems arc possible the reservoir water, concerning an element
consequences of this scenario. or the total of dissolved solids; and (Cd mg/I)
Erosion and dissolution of the foundation IS for the corresponding concentrations in
mainly caused by dislodging and dissolution of drained water. The lixiviation rate for a drain
materials from joint fillings and grouts or by is:
widthening of joints due to dissolution of very Td = (Cd-Cr) Q.
soluble rock masses. If the seepage is rapid, The lixiviation rate is obtained for the
the mechanical action of the water whole foundation through the average
predominates. leading to washing of small concentrations computed by means of all
resistant materials. If the seepage is slow. the drains with their different seepage flows.

1090
 100
Total of
dissolved •
sol ids
eTDS) <,
60 <,
• •
Ca = 8.6 + 26.8 C'2 •
••
10
40
Concentrat ion
of drained water
•
• +

:<
+
20 • Concentrat ion
of reservoi r

.•... - .
-.-1. __ -/ -- -- -
water

: +
'Calc iLll1

• •
10 15 0,1 10
c (l/min) C (L/m;n)

Fig. I - Lixiviation rates in foundations of concrete dams

Fig. I illustrates the ionic concentrations of Concerning the grout curtains. the
dissolved calcium in reservoir and drained lixiviation rates calculated for the calcium
Waters. and lixiviation rates for the whole clement (Fig. 3) (for drained waters collected
foundation. In spite of the decrease of the in dam foundations aged more than 10 years)
concentralion of drained water with seepage. show that the rates are considerably higher
the rates increase with seepage. in the granitic foundations than in the schist-
The determination of the lixivation rates at -g re y w ac k c foundations. In both cases,
different ages makes it possible to evaluate particularly for granitic rocks, the rates
the alterability of the rock mass crossed by decrease sign i fieantly during the first 5' I 0
the water. This is the methodology developed years of the lifetime. This behaviour results
to control the hydro-chemical behaviour of from the potential capacity of ionic exchange
POrtuguese dams [II]. between the rock. seeping water and grout
The above methodology was applied to the products. The schist-greywaeke rocks retain
analysis of 29 dams of gravity (II). arch (14) more easily the calcium ions than the
and butress (4) types [ II]. The total of granites. so their rates of lixiviation remain at
dIssolved solids (TDS) was used to represent :t more uniform level along the lifetime.
the dissolution of the foundation rock mass. In general. the drained water have higher
and the dissolved calcium was used to TDS than that of the reservoir water. The ratio
represent the dissolution of the grout curtain y between the mean values of these
(cements). concentrations is about 2-5 (FigA).
The distribution of the lixiviation rates Concerning the type of dam. the ratio y is
along the lifetime of works both to TDS and higher in foundations of arch structures than
calcium follow negative exponential in foundations of gravity structures.
evolutions. Some curves for TDS and calcium particularly after 5-10 years of the lifetime
rates (for drained Ilows Q = 0.5, I. 2.5 and 5 (Fig. 4). This may be justified by the large
IlInin) computed along 40 years of the stresses and deformations developed in the
lifetime of dams. arc represented in Figs 2 and foundation of arch dams due to the repeated
3. Analyses were made for all the 29 dams and (seasonal) actions. These mechanical effects
separately for those founded on granitic rocks are responsible for a seepage dynamics that
(13 dams) and those founded on schist- makes it possible renewed contacts between
-greywacke rocks (16 dams). water and rock mass. On the other hand. the
In the granitic foundations the lixiviatinn ratio y is higher for foundations in granites
rates for TDS arc higher than in the schist- than for foundations in sehisl-
-greywaeke foundations. particularly at the greywaekes(Fig. 4).
first years (Fig. 2).

1091
400 T TOS (Kg/year) LOO TTDS(Kg/Year)

Granite + Schist
300 300
5 (29 dams)

200 / 2,5 200

100 100
~
:::::--- /

o 10 15 20 25 30 35 LO 10 15 20 25 30 35 LO
yea r 5 yea rs

LOO TTOS (Kg/Year)

sch ist Q Drainage Seepage (5,

300
(16 dams) 2.5, 1, 0.5 l/min)

200

100 TDS Total of dissolved

solids (Kg/year)
------~---------
o
o 10 15 20 25 30 35 LO
ye a r S

Fig. 2 - Evolution of lixiviation rates for total of dissolved solids,

in foundations of concrete dams, along lifetime

TCa(Kg/Year) 120 TCa(Kg/Year>

400
100 Gran j te
300 (13 dams)
Granite + Schist 80
(29 dams)
200 60

LO
100
20

o
10 15 20 25 30 35 LO 10 15 20 25 30 35 LO
Ye a r s Ye a r 5

8 T car Kg/Year)

sch ist
(16 dams) Q Drainage Seepage (5,
:\~-
5 \ ~ _-------
2.5, 1, 0.5 l/min)

4 ~O,5-------- ..
Ca Calcium of cement
--------_. grout (Kg/year)
o
o 10 15 20 25 30 35 LO
Years

Fig. 3 - Evolution of lixiviation rates for the calcium (cement

grouts), in foundations of concrete dams, along lifetime

1092
 Y5 Gran ite
(13 dams)
Arch
(14 dams)
/ Granite + Schist /

3 ~\(_2_9_d_am_s_) == /
Gravi ty and buttress
(15 dams)

Sch is t
(16 dams)

o o
o 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 o 10 15 20 25 30 35 1.0
Yea r 5
vea r5

Y= TDS (Seepage water)

TDS (Reservoir water)

Fig. 4 - Evolution along lifetime of total of dissolved solids, for

different rock masses and for thin and thick dams

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS 4- ASCE/USCOLD 1975, 1988 - «Lessons from

dam incidents, USA-I and II», New York.
In conclusion. wc should cmphasize the
fOllowing points: I) ageing of concrete dam 5- ICOLD 1978. 1982. 1987. 1989 and 1991
foundations is an important class of «Finite element methods in analysis and
deterioration because it may lead to heavy design of dams». «Dam safety, Guidelines».
repair works; 2) water plays an essential role «Dam design criteria. Philosophy of
In the ageing scenarios of dam foundations. choice». «Monitoring of dams and their
namely in the scenario of dissolution; foundations. State-of-art'). «Alkali-
3) lixiviation of rock mass foundations, occurs aggregate reaction in concrete dams»,
essentially in the first 5-10 years of the Bulletins 30a, 59. 61 and 79.
lifetime; 4) the lixiviation rates of the
foundation (represented by the to tal of 6- ICOLD 1986-1993 - «Ageing of dams and
dissolved solids) is higher in granite rocks appurtenant works». (Draft prepared by
than in schist-grey wacke rocks; 5) lixiviation the Committee on Ageing of Dams).
of the cement grouts (represented by the
dissolution of calcium). follows a similar 7- Regu lameruo de Scguranca de Barragens c
pattern; 6) Iixiviation rates in foundations of Norrnas Cornplcrncntares. 1990 - Decreta-
thin arch dams remain along lifetime at Lei n? 11/90 de 6 de Janeiro (Portuguese
higher values than those for thick gravity Regulations for Safety of Dams and
dams. respective Codes of Practice on Design,
Construction. Operation, and Observation
and Inspection - Decree-Law n2 11/90 of
REFERENCES 6th January), Lisboa.

1- Rocha M 1974 and 1978 -«Present 8- Joint Committee on Structural Safety 1978
possibilities of studying foundations of and 1988 - «General principles on Safety
concrete dams». (ISRM Congress. Denver) and serviceability for structural design»
and «Analysis and design of foundations (ECE) and «General principles on reliabi-
of concrete dams». (ISRM Symposium, Rio lity for Structures» (CIB. Bulletin 191).
de Janeiro).
9- Pedro JO 1990 and 1993 - «Ageing of large
2- ICOLD 1993. 1955, 1967. 1979, 1982. 1985 and structures. Evaluation by computational
1991 - «Questions I a. 17, 32. 49. 52, 59 and methods». (Education. Practice and Promo-
75» Congresses. Stockholm, Paris, Istanbul, tion of Computational methods Using Small
New Delhi. Rio de Janeiro and Lausanne. Computers. Macau) and «Ageing of dams
Vienna. and appurtenant works» (to be published.
Indian Journal of Power and River Valley
3- ICOLD 1974. 1981 and 1984 - «Lessons from Development, Calcutta.
dam incidents» and «Deterioration of dams
and reservoirs)'. Paris. 10- Silveira AF 1990 - «Some considerations on

1093
 the durability of dams». Water Power &
Dam Construction. February.

11- Silva HS 1993 - «Esiudo do envelhecimento

das barragens de betao e alvenaria.
Alteracao ffsico-qufmica dos materials».
(Ageing of concrete and masonry dams.
Physico-chemical alteration of materials.
Thesis).

1094