Another dam question
Geosynthetics | August 2011
Editor's Note: A follow-up to this question and answer, prompted by the article "Geomembrane sealing systems for dams," came from a reader in India.
Question
From: Shivani Pal
Geomembranes v/s concrete face in rock-fill dams?
Please comment, sir, whether geomembrane can completely remove the layer of concrete face required in rock-fill dams or are they an additional water retention improvers—i.e., will a concrete-faced, rock-fill dam be no longer concrete-faced if geomembranes are used (neglecting 200m-thick PCC layer)?
Regards,
Shivani Pal
Design Engineer
Himachal Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd.
Himachal Pradesh, India
Response
From: Dr. Robert Koerner
Dear Shivani Pal,
The answer to your question of eliminating a concrete covering on earth and earth/rock-fill dams when using a geomembrane as waterproofing is “yes and do indeed eliminate the concrete” provided that you can make a reasonably stable subgrade for the geomembrane.
In the 2010 International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) Bulletin #135, there are listed 173 such dams worldwide, with 47 upstream exposed, 106 are upstream covered, and 20 are internal. None are reported to have had a cast-in-place concrete layer beneath them.
Dr. Robert Koerner
Geosynthetic Institute and the GMA Techline
Join the discussion
To post your thoughts on these comments, fill out the comment form on the bottom of the article "Geomembrane sealing systems for dams," or send your coments to editor Ron Bygness at rwbygness@ifai.com.
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