Cerrillos Dam - 3-D Seepage Analysis
Abstract
Foundation seepage in excess of design estimates occurred following the first filling of the new Cerrillos Dam located in Puerto Rico. This 323-ft high earth-rockfill dam, constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is situated on a foundation of steeply dipping limestones, siltstones, and tuffs. Seepage is controlled by an impermeable clay core located within the dam and by a two-line grout curtain which extends 20 feet into the foundation rock. A drainage collection system located within the downstream toe of the rockfill shell collects and monitors the seepage discharge. Since measured seepage discharges were approximately six times greater than the design estimate, a review of the seepage regime was undertaken. The original design seepage estimate was made using hand-drawn flow net procedures for an idealized two- dimensional (2-D) vertical section taken through the dam. A design seepage estimate of 1.0 cu ft per second (cfs) was obtained. This 2-D analyses failed to satisfactorily account for the cross-valley components of seepage under the grout curtain through more permeable limestone formations present in the dam's left abutment. A three dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) method seepage analysis was conducted and yielded excellent agreement with the measured seepage discharges at different pool elevations. Foundation seepage, Scientific visualization, Porons media, Three-dimensional (3-D) finite element method.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA275441
Entities
People
- John B. Palmerton