Scholars' Mine Masters Theses Student Theses and Dissertations Summer 2013 Wolf Creek Dam: a case study of foundation remediation for dams built on Karst foundations Kyla Justene Erich Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses Part of the Geological Engineering Commons Department: Recommended Citation Erich, Kyla Justene, "Wolf Creek Dam: a case study of foundation remediation for dams built on Karst foundations" (2013). Masters Theses. 5387. https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/5387 This thesis is brought to you by Scholars' Mine, a service of the Missouri S&T Library and Learning Resources. This work is protected by U. S. Copyright Law. Unauthorized use including reproduction for redistribution requires the permission of the copyright holder. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WOLF CREEK DAM: A CASE STUDY OF FOUNDATION REMEDIATION FOR DAMS BUILT ON KARST FOUNDATIONS by KYLA JUSTENE ERICH A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the MISSOURI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2013 Approved by J. David Rogers, Advisor Norbert Maerz James Vandike ii iii ABSTRACT Wolf Creek Dam was completed in 1952 as a 5,736-foot long and 258-foot high combination embankment-concrete gravity dam. Its storage capacity of 6 million acre feet makes it the ninth largest reservoir in the nation. The dam was built on a heavily karstified limestone foundation and began exhibiting signs of excess foundation seepage in late 1967. This led to extensive corrective work in the 1970s beneath the earthen core of the embankment to reduce underseepage. In 2006 an independent assessment by the Dam Safety Action Classification (DSAC) Peer Review Panel recommended that Wolf Creek Dam exhibited “Urgent and Compelling” foundation seepage issues that required immediate attention. This classification triggered the most complex dam foundation remediation project of any dam in the world, with an estimated total cost of $594 million, requiring years of construction (2007- 2013). The drilling and grouting techniques being applied insitu beneath the embankment section will likely establish new standards of practice for remediation and foundation beneficiation for hydraulic structures built on karst sites, such as embedded barrier walls. These past and present remediation efforts are addressed and analyzed in this study to create a fully comprehensive review of the famous Wolf Creek Dam. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS It must first be said that I could not have completed any of this without the constant help and guidance of my advisor, Dr. J David Rogers. It is because of Dr. Rogers and Donald Bruce that I was able to visit Wolf Creek Dam and experience what a world-renown remediation project is like first hand. It was an experience I will never forget. For that I must also thank my welcoming host Lyndon Bedford, who took time to introduce me to several members of the Treviicos-Soletanche Joint Venture (TSJV) team. I’d also like to thank those patient souls who showed me around the work site and answered my infinite number of questions. I want to thank Dr. Norbert Maerz for guiding me through life as a graduate student when I first arrived at Missouri S&T. Furthermore he gave me my chance to work as a graduate teaching assistant during my time at the University. It became more than a job, but truly another form of education for me. Thanks must also be given to a wonderful professor, Jim Vandike, who educated me on subsurface hydrology in karst environments. In taking his class I was able to visit some of the most beautiful and unique karst sites in Missouri and Arkansas. He was always incredibly helpful and willing to answer all of my questions. Finally, I must thank my father Michael Erich, and sister Jenna Hipps, for their constant loving support. My studies in Missouri have not been easy, but thankfully my family gave me the strength and encouragement I needed to move forward. I sincerely thank you all. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. x SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE ................................................................................... 1 1.2. SITE DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................... 1 1.3. HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS ................................................................................. 3 2. INITIAL CONSTRUCTION ..................................................................................... 4 2.1. DECISION TO BUILD ...................................................................................... 4 2.2. IMPACTS OF WAR ........................................................................................... 4 2.3. FINAL COMPLETION ...................................................................................... 5 3. STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS .................................................................................... 6 3.1. CONCRETE MASONRY SECTION................................................................. 6 3.2. EMBANKMENT SECTION .............................................................................. 7 3.2.1. Main Design Elements ............................................................................. 7 3.2.2. Cutoff Trench ........................................................................................... 8 3.3. RESERVOIR .................................................................................................... 11 3.4. WOLF CREEK DAMSITE .............................................................................. 13 4. GEOLOGIC SETTING ............................................................................................ 14 4.1. GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS.................................................................... 14 4.2. SITE STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY ........................................................... 17 4.3. KARST PROCESSES ............................................................................... 18 4.4. PIPING DEVELOPMENT........................................................................ 19 5. PERFORMANCE OF THE DAM ........................................................................... 21 5.1. DISTRESS SIGNS .................................................................................... 21 5.2. EXPLORATION ....................................................................................... 22 vi 5.3. EMERGENCY ACTION .......................................................................... 23 5.4. DIAPHRAGM WALL .............................................................................. 25 5.3.1. Exploration and Grouting Program .............................................. 25 5.3.2. Specialized Equipment................................................................. 25 5.5. INSTALLATION PROCESS.................................................................... 26 5.6. UPDATED MONITORING SYSTEMS................................................... 31 5.7. DIAPHRAGM WALL COMPLETION ................................................... 32 6. RECENT PROBLEMS ............................................................................................ 34 6.1. POST-CONSTRUCTION PERFORMANCE .......................................... 34 6.1.1. Piezometer Implications............................................................... 34 6.1.2. More Reasons for Concern .......................................................... 35 6.1.3. Cable Tunnel Investigation .......................................................... 36 6.1.4. AMEC Investigations................................................................... 36 6.2. OFFICIAL ASSESSMENTS .................................................................... 37 6.2.1. Panel of Consultants .................................................................... 37 6.2.2. DSAC Peer Review Panel ............................................................ 37 6.3. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ..................................................................... 39 6.4. PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONCERNS ..................................................... 39 6.5. RESULTS OF FAILURE .......................................................................... 40 7. TS-JV BARRIER WALL ......................................................................................... 41 7.1. DESIGN PLAN ......................................................................................... 41 7.1.1. Specialized Equipment................................................................. 41 7.1.2. Monitoring Systems ..................................................................... 43 7.1.3. Method Testing ............................................................................ 45 7.2. PREPARATORY PHASE ........................................................................ 45 7.2.1. Grouting ......................................................................................