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Longitudinal Joints in Dams
Longitudinal Joints in Dams
http://mmmhydropower.blogspot.com/2013/08/longitudinal-joints-in-dam...
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http://mmmhydropower.blogspot.com/2013/08/longitudinal-joints-in-dam...
It is good practice for normal methods of construction to provide contraction joints in gravity dams. The spacing of transverse contraction joints shall be such as to suit the methods of construction, materials of the dam, the foundation conditions and the convenience of the location of control gates outlets etc. They are usually spaced about 15m apart, experience having shown that cracks are likely to develop in monoliths much wider than this. It is however, essential to locate the joints to best advantage relative to the shape of the abutments. The general requirement is that each joint extends entirely through the structure. Longitudinal Contraction Joints For large structures the problems of cooling large masses of concrete are enormous. One of the measures used to control cracks parallel to the length of the dam in case of relatively high dams is to subdivide the monolith into several blocks by longitudinal contraction joints and subsequently grout these joints to ensure monolithic action. The spacing of joints is largely dictated by convenience of construction and foundation conditions. A spacing of 20-30m is generally adopted. There is also now a school of thought which believes that the longitudinal joints need to be at very close spacing of about 15m or even omit them all, since there are doubts of the final behaviour of dams built in such a manner. IS Code (Indian Specifications) advocates elimination of longitudinal joints for the consideration of safety. Basically IS Code recognises the practice of dividing a monolith block into two or more blocks by introducing joints parallel to the axis of Dam as unsound. However if necessary, a high degree of perfection has to be ensured by providing suitable shear keys and then properly grouting the joints to create a monolithic block. IS Code:6512 on Criteria for Design of Solid Gravity Dams vide clause 7.1.1.1 states that It is now being increasing accepted that better alternative is to achieve necessary temperature control by pre-cooling of concrete supplemented wherever necessary by post-cooling and avoid longitudinal joints altogether, even in case of high dams. However, the necessity of vertical or inclined discontinuity is sometimes required due to the reasons other than thermal behaviour and crack control. One such reason may be due to tight construction programme and adoption of methodology. The homogeneity & monolithicity of the dam body has to be ensured by provision of shear keys cast on the internal face of both the blocks and grouting performed after the concreting of the area between the two blocks. Further, a detailed stability analysis of the dam needs to be carried out considering the longitudinal joints for all relevant load cases and uplift conditions. There are examples of Bhakra Dam & Dulhasti Dam in India, Ravedis Dam in Italy, Les Toules Arch Dam in Switzerland, Bolargue Dam, Irabia Dam & Grand Dixence Dam in Switzerland where such longitudinal joints have been provided successfully.
Dulhasti HE Project
The 390 MW Dulhasti Hydroelectric Project is a run of the river scheme located on river Chenab in District Doda, J&K- India. The project consists of a diversion dam at Dul with two intakes, one to provide water for the first stage and another to provide water for the proposed second stage. There are two underground desilting chambers with necessary flushing conduits and two more desilting chambers has already been constructed for the proposed second stage. The head race tunnel is 7.7 m dia and 10.6 km long. Due to changes in alignment, it doesn't have a uniform slope from upstream to downstream and hence an air-vent shaft of 400 m high has been provided to avoid airlock. An underground surge shaft of 18.5m diameter, 117m deep with other ancillary tunnels has been provided. Three penstocks of 4.8 m dia and 141 m depth take-off from surge shaft. The underground power house with installed capacity of 390 MW (3x130 MW) with all the appurtenant structures is located at Hasti. The construction work of the project was awarded to a French consortium Dumez-Sogea-Borie SAE in October 1989, but was abandoned in August 1992. The work remained standstill for a period of about three years (between 1995 to 1997). The tunnelling work was carried out departmentally. Then the work was again retendered and
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awarded to the Indo-Norwegian Joint venture Jaiprakash Statkraft (JSA) during April, 1997. The project was finally commissioned in the year 2007. Geology of the Project Area Geologically, the rocks of Kishtwar area are classified into two Groups viz. Older Kishtwar Group and Younger Sinthan Group, corresponding to the metamorphic rocks and younger sedimentary and volcanic rocks respectively. The contact of these two groups is marked by a thrust designated as Chhattru Thrust, which is having a sinusoidal alignment. There were presence of other regional faults viz. Kishtwar Fault (runs almost N-S) and Daddhar Buzensheru Fault within Kishtwar Group. Structurally, the area was very disturbed and subjected to intense folding and faulting. Kishtwar fault was a significant fault in the area and separating schist and gneisses of Salkhala Formation and Quartzite - Phyllite sequence of Dul Formation under the Kishtwar Group of rocks. This fault was trending in NNW SSE direction and dipping 650 in westerly direction. The Kishtwar plateau (fossil valley), later on, is designated as Graben based on kinematic mechanism and sub-surface explorations carried out for HRT of the Project by French Consortium.
Dulhasti Dam
The Dul dam is a mass gravity concrete dam, measuring 65 m high above foundation with a crest length of 186m. It serves the primary function of hydroelectricity. In Dul dam longitudinal and vertical joints were provided as a construction requirement. These joints were provided with shear keys casted on internal face of both the blocks for transmission of shear stresses. These joints were later on grouted to ensure monolithic structure in the dam. Necessary provisions were left during construction stage to ensure grouting after completion. The grouting was done successfully. The dam is in operation and behaving correctly.
[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-26XrHU7k6MA/UhogIi7OaPI /AAAAAAAAINY/Je4LvggBAYU/s1600/X+section+dam.jpg]
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[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jlel1cUs1lA/Uhofrfr63dI/AAAAAAAAINE/BvhveiE8dVA/s1600/Dulhasti+Dam.png]
Dul Dam Cross Section - Longitudinal Joint parallel to Dam Axis can be seen
[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMd37LtFBZc /Uhogj6XqSMI/AAAAAAAAINg/6VIgXPGjXMc/s1600/Dul+dam+plan.jpg]
Dul Dam Foundation Plan - Longitudinal Joint parallel to Dam Axis can be seen
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[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GJit1zmhY5Y/UhogDaK2vI/AAAAAAAAINQ/QIIxFedT5j0/s1600/vertical+joints-+Dulhasti.png]
[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wP_1FJLEK4Q/UhojzD4kF_I /AAAAAAAAINw/G4s-BLWbuFU/s1600/Dul+Grouting+arrangement.jpg]
Ravedis Dam
The Ravedis dam in Italy is a mass gravity concrete dam, measuring 51 m high above foundation with a crest length of 173m and a reservoir storage volume of 25 million cum. It serves for Flood Control, irrigation and hydroelectricity. The construction of the Dam was completed in November, 2004. During construction of the monolithic basement of Ravedis dam, 8 (eight) different blocks were casted and connected together by joints, parallel to the dam axis. Particular attention was given to the joint treatment of monolithic basement blocks in order to guarantee the monolithic characteristic requested for the foundation block.
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[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HCz14oXuf08/UhollWb944I/AAAAAAAAIQc/Sw6gD5idfuU/s1600/Ravedis+Foundation+Plan.png]
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[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fU-s4D67ZPo/UhollnKmG1I /AAAAAAAAIQo/YZQDVI51Mss/s1600/Ravedis+X+section.jpg]
Cross Section of Ravedis Dam - Longitudinal Joints parallel to Dam Axis can be seen
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[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrgCHftwxKU/Uholk23tRjI/AAAAAAAAIQU/gPe-pTfDDk/s1600/Les+Vincas.png]
[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Av1Byk6Lr0U/Uholj9rGvHI /AAAAAAAAIQE/KX3LohV0zmw/s1600/Les+Toules.jpg]
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[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ckGkBD6vEOE/Uholm0Xhl7I/AAAAAAAAIRA /0liD2mkEpdA/s1600/rehabilitation+Les+Toules.jpg]
[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e6cqwaWbO7I/UholhN1wAiI/AAAAAAAAIPQ/QjZNrVcsUxg/s1600 /End+Block+les+toules.png]
Irabia Dam
Irabia Dam was heightened three times and the fourth heightening is being planned.
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[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWHgZ5YG_nw/Uholikxko0I/AAAAAAAAIPw /7w-VIc-mjEA/s1600/Irabia+Dam+stages.png]
The figure above shows the original profile over which three other profiles of the extended portion. The profile of the fourth extension being planned can be seen.
Bolarque Dam
The Bolarque Dam was heightened & the base width was increased. Galleries were also provided at the foundation & at the top of the existing dam to take care of the uplift forces.
[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5L-77kMxhSI/UholdAFmk6I /AAAAAAAAIOg/jqLPUAHMQ0A/s1600/Bolarque+dam.png]
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[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BX8x1tX5zNk/UholhvYn1DI/AAAAAAAAIPY /527Sejv0YUE/s1600/Grand+Dixene.png]
Figure shows the profiles for each stage. Keys were provided at each stage for better bonding. Longitudinal joints were created in the process.
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[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmlauEM3cNk/Uhoos3E3-CI/AAAAAAAAIRQ /6h9XrDv3POk/s1600/Grand+Diexene+stages.png]
Grand Dixence Dam Cross Section Figure shows the years in which different blocks have been Constructed- Longitudinal Joints created during successive stages can be seen
Bhakra Dam
Bhakra dam in India is a mass concrete gravity dam of 225.55m height located on Satluj River corresponding to a total volume of 3.82 million cum of concrete. It is located in an area with large seasonal temperature variation. The dam construction was started in 1955 and completed in 1963. Several remedial measures were taken to avoid cracks in this large massive structure. The dam body was segmented in a series of blocks by traverse and longitudinal joints. Without longitudinal joints for such a large concrete structure, stoppages or delays in the construction during the winter time would have involved cracking of the dam body. Cross section of the dam body shows the joints provided during construction in Bhakra Dam.
[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-psjBUnLrWzs/UhopFhvxf0I/AAAAAAAAIRY /8pjuvOPcYfs/s1600/Bhakra+Dam.jpg]
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Conclusion
The various examples cited above where Longitudinal Contraction joints have been provided due to varying reasons. Concrete Gravity Dams with Longitudinal Contraction joints can be planned when necessitated due to reasons such as construction programme and ultimately the viability of the project itself. However, utmost care has to be taken so that a high degree of perfection is accomplished in ensuring monolithicity by providing suitable shear keys and successfully grouting all the joints. These examples demonstrate that with proper planning, adopting strict quality control measures and maintaining all necessary design requirements, there is no reason as to why Longitudinal Contraction Joints cannot be adopted in large concrete dams.
References New York, VI Congress of ICOLD 1958 Rome, VII Congress of ICOLD 1961 New Delhi, XIII Congress of ICOLD 1979 Florence, XIX Congress of ICOLD 1997 Muller, O., Wohnlich, A., Safety Enhancement and Strengthening of Les Toules arch Dam.
Posted 4 weeks ago by MM Madan
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