Abstract
Earth dams are constantly under the hydraulic pressure. Their long-term operation leads to arising of zones of increased water cut and filtration in body and base of dams. This weakens dam’s strength. Geophysical methods can be used to control condition of the soil structures. We describe the research results of the Elchovka earth dam by a complex of electrometric methods, as they are most sensitive to changes in soil moisture. We applied the self-potential (SP) method, the vertical electrical soundings (VES) and the remote induction soundings (RIS) with the study of the frequency dispersion of electrical resistivity. Main pathways of the water filtration were identified by the self-potential method. According to the results of RIS, the boundary between bulk and natural soils as well as the boundary between sedimentary and bedrock are clearly distinguished. Electric soundings on direct current (VES) allowed us to localize places with reduced resistivities due to increased soil moisture. Frequency dispersion anomalies, which can also indicate water filtration in bulk soils and bedrock, were found. On the investigated dam, anomalies of the electrical conductivity and the frequency dispersion coincide with anomalies of the self-potential. This indicates increased filtration. Thus, the use of the remote induction soundings and the frequency dispersion methods together with widely applied VES and SP methods enhances the reliability of research and provides additional information about the hydrogeological situation in the area of the dam.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anchuela Ó.P, Frongia P., Di Gregorio F., Casas Sainz A.M. and Pocovi J.A., 2018. Internal characterization of embankment dams using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and thermographic analysis: A case study of the Medau Zirimilis Dam (Sardinia, Italy). Eng. Geol., 237, 129–139, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.02.015
Cygal A., Stefaniuk M., Kret A. and Kurowska M., 2016. The application of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), induced polarization (IP) and electromagnetic conductivity (EMC) methods for the evaluation of technical condition of flood embankment corpus. Geol. Geophys. Environ., 42, 279–287, DOI: https://doi.org/10.7494/geol.2016.42.3.279
Davydov V.A., Baidikov S.V., Gorshkov V.Y. and Malikov A.V., 2016. Geophysics methods in electrometric assessment of dams. Power Technol. Eng., 50, 168–175, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10749-016-0678-7
Davydov V.A., 2018. Two-dimensional inversion of remote induction sounding. Natural Science Issues, 1, 62–69 (in Russian)
Fedorova O.I., 2017. Observation of frequency dispersion of electrical resistance in the study of soil dams. Ural’skij geofiziceskij vestnik, 2, 76–78 (in Russian)
Fedorova O.I. and Davydov V.A., 2014. Diagnostics of ground water facilities using electric and seismic methods at the Elchevsk dam as a study case. Water Sector of Russia: Problems, Technologies, Management, 6, 44–55 (in Russian)
Fedorova O.I., Davydov V.A., Baydikov S.V. and Gorshkov V.Y., 2017. Application of geoelectrical monitoring to the study of soil dams. Environ. Geosci., 1, 84–92 (in Russian)
Goldin A.L. and Rasskazov L.N., 2001. Designing Soil Dams. ACB, Moscow, Russia ISBN 5-93093-088-0 (in Russian)
Hallof P.G., 1964. A comparison of the various parameters employed in the variable-frequency induce-polarization method. Geophysics, 29, 425–433, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1439376
Hickey C.J., Romkens M.J., Wells R.R. and Wodajo L., 2015. Geophysical methods for the assessment of earthen dams. In: Yang C.T. and Wang L.K. (Eds), Advances in Water Resources Engineering. Springer, Cham, Switzerland, 297–359, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11023-3
Hui S.R., Charlebois L. and Sun C., 2017. Real-time monitoring for structural health, public safety, and risk management of mine tailings dams. Can. J. Earth Sci., 55, 221–229, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2017-0186
Kononenko I.I., Rodionov P.F., Ulitin R.V. and Chelovechkov A.I., 1973. Methods and techniques of field work and cameral processing in the IP method with alternating current. In: Tavrin I.F. (Ed.), Phase and Amplitude Measurements of Induced Polarization in Ore Deposits. UNCS, Sverdlovsk, Russia, 71–85 (in Russian)
Kormiltsev V.V. and Mezentsev A.N., 1989. Electromagnetics in Polarizing Mediums. Ural Branch of AS USSR, Sverdlovsk, Russia (in Russian)
Loke M.H., 2019. RES2DINV. Rapid 2D Resistivity & IP Inversion Using the Least-Squares Method.: Geotomo Software, Penang, Malaysia (https://www.geotomosoft.com/r2dimanu.zip)
Loperte A., Soldovieri F., Palombo A., Santini F. and Lapenna V., 2016. An integrated geophysical approach for water infiltration detection and characterization at Monte Cotugno rock-fill dam (southern Italy). Eng. Geol., 211, 162–170, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.07.005
Martínez-Moreno F.J., Delgado-Ramos F., Galindo-Zaldívar J., Martín-Rosales W., López-Chicano M. and González-Castillo L., 2018. Identification of leakage and potential areas for internal erosion combining ERT and IP techniques at the Negratín Dam left abutment (Granada, southern Spain). Eng. Geol., 240, 74–80, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2018.04.012
Minsley B.J., Burton B.L., Ikard S. and Powers M.H., 2011. Hydrogeophysical investigations at hidden dam, Raymond, California. J. Environ. Eng. Geophys., 16, 145–164, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2113/JEEG16.4.145
Panthulu T.V., Krishnaiah C. and Shirke J.M., 2001. Detection of seepage paths in earth dams using self-potential and electrical resistivity methods. Eng. Geol., 59, 281–295, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(00)00082-X
Rozycki A., Ruiz Fonticiella J.M. and Cuadra A., 2006. Detection and evaluation of horizontal fractures in earth dams using the self-potential method. Eng. Geol., 82, 145–153, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2005.09.013
Semenov A.S., 1974. Electrical Prospecting by Method of Natural Electric Field. Nedra, Leningrad, Russia (in Russian)
Sentenac P., Benes V. and Keenan H., 2018. Reservoir assessment using non-invasive geophysical techniques. Environ. Earth Sci., 77, ArtNo 293, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7463-x
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davydov, V.A., Fedorova, O.I., Gorshkov, V.Y. et al. Assessment of state of earth dam of Elchovka settling pond by combination of electromagnetic soundings and polarization methods. Stud Geophys Geod 65, 206–218 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-020-0114-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-020-0114-1