Monitoring of the Desjarrstfla dam

Fjla G. Sigtryggsdttir & Plmi R. Plmason

VST Consulting Engineers Ltd., Iceland; prp@vst.is, fgs@vst.is Abstract: The Desjarrstfla dam constitutes a part of the Krahnjkar hydroelectric project in east Iceland. It is one of three dams that retain the Hlsln reservoir, the main regulating storage of the project. Construction started in the year 2004 with the bulk of the fill being placed in the years 2005 and 2006 and was completed in 2007. The impoundment of the reservoir commenced in late 2006 with full supply level reached in October 2007. Monitoring of specific properties in the dam and the development of these was an integral part of the construction phase. Of interest in this context was, the pore pressure built-up and its dissipation, the settlement of the dam, the leakage and finally but not the least monitoring of potential movement on existing fault crossing the dam footprint. In this context, piezometers were imbedded in the core on three sections at specific elevations. Additionally, settlement plates were placed at different elevations on these same sections. As for leakage, this is collected immediately downstream of the core and conveyed in pipes to the downstream damtoe, where some tens of m downstream it collects into a canal provided with an overflowing weir. Further still, potential movements on existing or new faults and lineaments in the reservoir area have been monitored regarding movements. The dams behaviour has sofar been satisfactory in all respects, albeit not completely fulfilling all design criteria. Thus, e.g. pore pressure dissipation was more rapid than expected, whereas settlement and seepage are presumably within these estimated. Here the recordings leave some things to be desired. Monitoring results are presented in the paper along with an evaluation and possible consequences of the results. 1 PREAMBLE

The Desjarrstfla dam of about 70 m height, is the second highest dam in Iceland and the highest such with a central moraine core. The dam constitutes a part of the Krahnjkar hydroelectric project (KHP), located in east Iceland. The dam was constructed in the years 2004 through 2007, with the bulk of the fill placed in 2005 and 2006. Impoundment of the reservoir, Hlsln, started late in September 2006 while full supply level (FSL) was reached by middle of October 2007. The reservoir at FSL is shown on Fig.1. Conversely, the main project features in the Hlsln reservoir area; intake, spillway and fuse plug are shown on Fig. 2 indicating both the FSL 625,0 m a.s.l. and the lowest regulating level (LRL) 575,0 m a.s.l. Monitoring of specific properties in the dam and the development of these constituted a part of the construction and impoundment phases, as well as future safety considerations. Thus, instrumentation of the dam is limited to that required to ensure safety and general compliance with the pertinent criteria, comprising monitoring of settlement, leakage, pore pressure build up in the core, seismic response and potential movements of faults in the dam foundation. [1] A somewhat controlled pore pressure build-up in the core was required in order to ensure short term stability. This necessitated monitoring, i.e. with piezometers being imbedded at specific locations in the core.

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The dam is constructed with a camber amounting no less than 0,5% of each pertinent height. This camber extends along the entire dam from the crest down to the foundation. Certain moduli of the relevant fill were presumed in the design. In order to verify this as well as that the specified camber should suffice, settlement plates were installed on certain section and elevations. Thus the aim with the settlement plates was on one hand to allow monitoring of the settlement to a limited extent during but mainly after construction, while on the other hand to provide feedback for the relevant moduli calculations.

Figure 1. The reservoir area with the three dams, respectively from left; the Desjarrstfla dam, the Krahnjkar dam and the Saurdalsstfla dam. Hlsln reservoir at about FSL 625 m a.s.l. Limiting the overall leakage from the reservoir is of interest to the owner. Extensive grouting of the foundation was executed, both in order to control leakage and to ensure safety. Although seepage through the core was expected to be minimal, leakage amounting some tens of l/s was presumed in the downstream area, potentially even peaking at a few hundred l/s in the first years of operation, while markedly diminishing with time due to self-sealing by the suspended sediments. The leakage is monitored both close to the dam and further downstream.

Figure 2. The Krahnjkar and the Desjarrstfla dams with appurtenant project features NGM 2004, Geotechnical design and city planning

All the above issues are explained and discussed to some extent in this paper. However, with the relatively short time elapsed since completion of the dam construction and filling of the reservoir, the long-term overall steady state effects neither in respect of settlement nor consolidation may yet have been reached. Furthermore in this respect, the quasi steady state prevailing in the downstream area does not yet exist. Regarding the dam design and properties, readers are kindly referred to the authors paper titled; Some design aspects of the Desjarrstfla dam, in the following referred to as Paper #1. 2 MONITORING

Monitoring of the dam behaviour during construction and operation was and has been rather limited. Still, as detailed in the following, piezometers were installed in the core and settlement plates placed at selected locations. Conversely, leakage has been closely monitored since impoundment started. Upon completed dam construction, equipment for the monitoring of seismic and movement on faults and lineaments in the area has been installed. 2.1 Pore pressure

The pore pressure build-up and subsequent dissipation under the consolidation phase was monitored in altogether 19 piezometers. These were installed on three sections at respectively; Stations (St.); 500, 700 and 900 (see Fig. 3 and 4) seven on each of the first two with five on the third. The piezometers were, as shown on the Figure 4, located so as to best reflect the overall pore pressure in the core and the development of this. The piezometers are located at approximate elevations; 585, 595, 605 and 616 m a.s.l. Figure 5 depicts how the pore pressure developed in the construction period at St. 700 throughout the initial impoundment and the ensuing reservoir drawdown.

Figure 3. Layout of the dam complete with fuse plug and the ensuing canal

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Figure 4. Typical cross section of the dam. Location of piezometers at approximate stations St.500, St 700 and St.900 As may be deduced from the diagrams on Fig. 5 the pore pressure rose initially very quickly in the lowest located piezometers, well corresponding to the added surcharge by the overlying fill. Conversely, the piezometers located higher up in the core did, either not at all or to a very limited extent, respond to the increasing surcharge. The pore pressure dissipated very rapidly, as was indeed expected. This is i.a. evident from readings in piezometers at El. 585. Conversely, no such trend can be detected in the other piezometers at this station, which most likely reflects relatively low moisture content at compaction, rather than limited compaction effort, but regardless resulting in higher than minimum permeability. Furthermore, almost no build-up of pore pressure with the added surcharge was evidenced here and subsequently very limited dissipation of this. If the properties of the entire core section here had been similar, seepage should inevitably be appreciable.
635 630 625 Porewaterpressure m a.s.l. 620 615 610 605 600 595 590 585 580 635 630 Dam fill & Hlsln Reservoir m a.s.l. 625 620 615 610 605 600 595 590 585 580

2005- 2005- 2005- 2006- 2006- 2006- 2006- 2006- 2006- 2007- 2007- 2007- 2007- 2007- 2007- 2008- 2008- 200807-27 09-25 11-24 01-23 03-24 05-23 07-22 09-20 11-19 01-18 03-19 05-18 07-17 09-15 11-14 01-13 03-13 05-12 U-585 D-585 U-595 D-595 U-605 D-605 C-615 Reservoir Dam fill

Figure5. Measured pore pressure at St. 700, reservoir level [2] and construction of dam fill

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The results of the piezometers readings are mostly consistent at the three stations 500, 700 and 900. Generally, gradient from the upstream core side to the closest piezometers is very limited whereas this is quite marked, yet variable, from there to the downstream side piezometers. Luckily it seems that the remainder of the core was compacted at the specified moisture content achieving at least close to minimum permeability. It somewhat regrettably may be argued that only a part of the core is fully effective as such. Still, this is of little concern as e.g. the calculated seepage through dam only amounts a few l/s in total, which seems to coincide well with this measured. 2.2 Seepage - Leakage

Calculated seepage through the core shows that this will be less than 10 l/s. However, considering the prevailing foundation conditions, the total leakage in the area downstream of the Desjarrstfla dam will amount some hundreds of l/s, as based on 3D modelling extending from a considerable portion of the reservoir area to some 10 km downstream of the dams, reaching from ground surface down to El. 300. The model however does not specifically consider the faults and lineaments existing in the area, features which probably predominantly affect the leakage. [3] A system of perforated pipes is provided on the foundation to collect whichever water that may emit here. The aim is to convey in a controlled way most of the seepage and leakage which percolates through the core and foundation onto the overflowing weir, located some 30 m downstream from the damtoe, in the course of the creek which formerly existed in the depression. Still, considering the extent and depth of the sealing measures conducted in the lineaments and faults presumably existing in the foundation, it was expected that most of the leakage through these would surface some distance downstream from the dam and thus not be collected into the above mentioned weir. This has to a large extent been the case with an appreciable part of the total leakage surfacing further downstream. Coinciding with the rising reservoir level, springs emerged in both abutments in the downstream area. These seemed mostly to coincide with and align along the encountered lineaments and fault. When the reservoir level receded these springs mostly dried out, which however is but temporary since these will presumably emerge again with the raising of the reservoir level. Further still, upon pressurisation of the underlying headrace tunnel leakage increased in the downstream area. The discharge over the weir has been closely monitored from the time the reservoir reached the damtoe. [4] The leakage increased steadily as shown on Fig. 6 peaking at about 35 l/s and subsequently steadily diminishing with the receding reservoir level. Presently the discharge on the weir amounts some 7 l/s with the reservoir level at about El. 610. The total leakage in the area downstream of and close to the dam measured at FSL was slightly less than 100 l/s. This was measured on the seepage weir and in five springs linked to lineaments in the dams foundation. However, the total leakage measured some km downstream from the dam amounts some 250 l/s corresponding well with that modelled. Still it should be noted, that the quasi steady state which presumably will prevail in the future in the entire downstream area affected may not yet exist there.

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A marked reduction of the leakage is expected, especially in the next coming years, due to the relatively high turbidity in the reservoir. Thus a very considerable filtering takes place when the water percolates through the foundation. The turbidity of the leakage is some 10 % of this in the reservoir close to the dam, evidently resulting in appreciable self sealing and leakage reduction.
40 35 630

Leakage (l/s)

30 25 20 15 10 5 0
2007-06-15 2007-06-30 2007-07-15 2007-07-30 2007-08-14 2007-08-29 2007-09-13 2007-09-28 2007-10-13 2007-10-28 2007-11-12 2007-11-27 2007-12-12 2007-12-27 2008-01-11 2008-01-26 2008-02-10 2008-02-25 2008-03-11 2008-03-26 2008-04-10 2008-04-25

620 615 610 605 600 595 590

Date

Leakage l/s

Reservoir level m a.s.l.

Figure 6. Development of leakage at the damtoe [4] in relation to the reservoir level Furthermore in the context of leakage, it should be noted that experience from other reservoirs in glacial rivers shows that the leakage will rapidly decrease. 2.3 Settlement

Settlement plates are located as shown on Fig. 7. The plates were placed when the fill had reached an elevation about 1 m higher than this of the relevant plate. Neither monitoring of the settlement during filling nor after the construction has been satisfactory. Thus, important information in the respect of settlement has been lost. At the design stage, the different properties of the proposed fill materials were tested in the laboratory. From these tests it was e.g. evident that the properties of the fill materials in the dam would vary considerably even so within each zone. The test results are listed in the Table 1. Table 1 Fill properties [1] [5] Zone Core (moraine) Shell (pillow lava) Fines % 15 to 30 <5 Dry Coeff. of Constrained density consolidation modulus kN/m cv (cm/min) number, m 22 20 30 > 80 100 250 Angle of friction for <2% 45 55 Creep resistance, rs 1000 2500

Based on the above test results and presumed construction conditions the expected settlement of the dam was calculated. The calculations were in accordance with Janbus method [6] applying

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Reservoir level m a.s.l

625

the constrained modulus M = m 0,1 (MPa) as well as his approach to the long-term settlement due to creep. The moduli of the shells are considered to best reflect these prevailing in the dam. The calculated settlement, combined primary and secondary, amounts about 0,5%, coinciding with the provided camber.

Figure 7. Settlement plates locations at St. 500, St. 700 and St. 900 Results of the settlement monitoring are somewhat disappointing inasmuch that these are neither consistent nor numerous enough to allow an unconditional evaluation of the relevant moduli and future settlement. Consequently, we have for the time being chosen not to show here diagrams depicting the measured settlement of the different plates. Furthermore in this context, the plates at the crest were not placed simultaneously with the fill but considerably later i.a. resulting in that monitoring of the consolidation phase here was lost. Still, based on the scarce available measurements we have assessed the relevant overall modulus of the fill. The achieved average stiffness modulus of the fills underlying the various settlement plates was assessed with the 2D model Phase applying, as at the design stage, laboratory results (see Table 1) for the properties of each modelled fill. The calculated settlements in the model were compared with these measured and proved similar, indicating i.a. that realistic values had been selected for the applied modulus. The settlement at the different plates should in the future be better monitored in order to allow evaluation of the provided camber and whether this suffices or conversely if some fill needs to be added to the dam crest to ensure adequate future height and thus that the pertinent design criterion is satisfied. 3 EARTHQUAKES - EXPANSION

A network of strong-motion acceleration meters has been installed in the Hlsln area, comprising eight units. One such is located on the crest of the Desjarrstfla dam, where this is the highest. Additionally, serving the Desjarrstfla dam and the Krahnjkar dam, a strong motion acceleration meter was installed in the equipment house located between the two dams, for recording and presumably reflecting ground motions for rock condition. Hitherto, no earthquakes have been recorded on the system. Faults and lineaments were encountered in the dams foundation as detailed in our Paper #1. Numerical modelling conducted by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute of the NGM 2004, Geotechnical design and city planning

University of Iceland (EERC) indicated that potential movement on these caused by the impoundment should be largest on the 325 fault, still less than the 100 mm provided for in the design. [7] [8] Downstream of the dam a set of bolts were installed in the summer of 2007 across this fault. Distance between the bolts was measured with a precision tape extensometer in order to establish base conditions. The measurements will be repeated this summer and regularly thereafter, as may apply. Additionally in 2005, well prior to impoundment, a deformation (expansion) system, supervised by the EERC was established in the immediate vicinity of the three dams in order to monitor, the earth crusts deformation during and after impounding. Processing of monitoring data indicates an East-West differential movement amounting some 10 mm over the Desjarrstfla dam in the time elapsed from June 2007, when the reservoir first reached the dam, until September 2007, when the reservoir elevation was 3 m below the FSL. [9] This 10 mm differential movement, supposedly occurring over a length exceeding 1 km, presumably indicates the expansion of faults in the dam foundation. It should however be noted that this is still well within the design criterion of potential 100 mm opening on an individual fault and has not as far as known resulted in appreciable leakage. 4 REFERENCES

1. KEJV/VST; Krahnjkar Hydroelectric Project (KHP); KAR-13 Desjarrstfla Dam; Design Memorandum C-17; Landsvirkjun 2003 2. Vilbergur Kristinsson; Landsvirkjuns regular monitoring report on pore pressure, April 2008 3. KEJV/VST; Krahnjkar Hydroelectric Project; Assessment of Leakage from the Hlsln Reservoir (Revision); LV-2007/021; 2006 4. Landsvirkjuns regular monitoring reports on leakage (by VIJV during impounding and Verkfristofa Austurlands since October 2007) 5. Almenna verkfristofan; Krahnjkar Hydroelectric Project. Krahnjkar Dam Investigation of shell material. August 1999 6. N. Janbu; GRUNNLAG I GEOTEKNIKK; Tapir forlag 1970 7. Jnas . Snbjrnsson; Colin A. Taylor and Ragnar Sigbjrnsson; KHP Hlsln AreaAssessment of Crustal Strain and Fault Movements; LV-2006/013; 2006 8. Jnas . Snbjrnsson; lafur Oddbjrnss, Colin A. Taylor and Ragnar Sigbjrnsson; On the rock fault behaviour induced by impounding of the Hlsln reservoir; LV-2006/102; 2006 9. Jnas r Snbjrnsson, Markus Rennen; Memorandum. Attachment to a report from the Earth Sciences Group to Landsvirkjun, Hlsln impounding. Report on monitoring of earthquakes and crustal movements. Issued October 2007

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