Structure monitoring of earth dams: a necessity

Abstract

To understand the long-term behaviour of a dam, it is essential to carefully interpret the measured data. Effective control of dam safety requires that measured data has to be interpreted as fast as possible after the readings. In regards to the methods of interpretation and analysis of such data, there are different practices and varying viewpoint. However, in every case, it is essential to have monitoring data. The basic principles of dam monitoring are exposed, as well as the objectives of the analysis of the measures. The value of such an analysis is illustrated on two examples operating two different methods. The first example concerns the piezometric levels of a homogeneous earthdam of 15,5 m of height (Chamboux dam, France). The method is based on a statistical analysis called Hydrostatic-Season-Time (or HST). The location of some indicators on the plans of the dam allows a global analysis of its behavior. The second example concerns a zoned earthdam of 33 m of height (Klimkowka dam, Poland). The method is based on an expertise of the measures. The object of this paper is not to describe the methods, but to convince the necessity of having monitoring data to estimate the safety of a dam.