Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural response and damage evaluation of Melen RCC Dam considering creep effects

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Melen Dam is located on Big Melen Stream. It is about 25 km away from Düzce. Dam body is designed as a roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity structure with 944 m crest length. The project is built to supply water to the city of Istanbul. The dam body started cracking when the dam height reached about 98 m from the foundation level in October 2016. It was initially thought that cracks were due to shrinkage resulting from the cooling of dam concrete; therefore, the construction of the dam body was not stopped but displacement measuring devices were placed on certain parts of the dam to measure movements in three directions. DSI’s (State Hydraulic Works of Turkey) remedial proposal is to construct rockfill buttressing at the downstream side of the dam to increase sliding factor of safety, to build a cutoff wall near the heel of the dam to control seepage water, and to add an upstream membrane to existing dam to prevent leakage through the dam. It is the aim of this paper to discuss the remedial proposal developed by DSI. Geotechnical parameters at the dam site are evaluated under the light of investigations, tests, and observations. Dam behavior and observed settlements are explained by relating settlements to foundation properties and geology. After studying geological and tectonic setting of the dam area together with the active faults around the region, remedial measures are evaluated by considering observed settlements upon dam body completion, by estimating settlements upon dam buttressing and impounding together with possible changes in the properties of dam foundation because of excessive settlements and saturation, and by comparing similar rockfill buttressing solutions applied to other dams around the world with the proposed one for Melen Dam.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bayraktar A, Sevim B, Altunısık AC, Türker T, Kartal ME, Akköse M, Bilici Y (2009) Comparison of near and far fault ground motion effects on the seismic performance evaluation of dam-reservoir-foundation systems. Int Water Power Dam Construct (Dam Engineering) 19:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremen R, Amberg F, Lehmann G (2004) Strengthening of the Spullersee dams. Int J Hydropower Dams 11(3):87–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Deere DU, Hendron AJ, Patton FD, Cording EJ (1968) Design of Surface and near-surface construction in rock. The 8th U.S. Symposium on rock mechanics (USRMS), 15-17 September, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • DSI (2008) Melen Dam and HEPP planning report

  • DSI (2011) Melen Dam and HEPP final design reports

  • DSI (2020) Melen Dam and HEPP dam strengthening tender documents

  • DSI (2017-2020). Presentations about Melen Dam’s observed deformations, possible causes and remedial solutions including consultants’ evaluations

  • Emre Ö, Duman TY, Özalp S (2011) 1/250.000 Scale active fault map series of Turkey, Adapazarı (NK 36-13) quadrangle, SN: 14. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara, Turkey

  • Emre Ö, Duman TY, Özalp S et al (2018) Active fault database of Turkey. Bull Earthq Eng 16:3229–3275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fell R, MacGregor P, Stapledon D, Bell G, Foster M (2015) Geotechnical Engineering of Dams, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser WA (2001) Engineering geology considerations for specifying dam foundation objectives. www.water.ca.gov/damsafety/docs/egc.pdf. Accessed 03 Mar 2019

  • Ghaedi K, Khanzaei P, Vaghei R, Fateh A, Javanmardi A, Gordan M, Hanif U (2016) Reservoir hydrostatic pressure effect on roller compacted concrete (RCC) dams. Malay Constr Res J 19(2):1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman RE (1990) Rock Foundations for Dams: A Summary of exploration targets and experience in different rock types. Proc. 10th Annual USCOLD Lecture Series, March 6-7, New Orleans, LA, pp 31

  • Görür N, Çağatay MN, Emre Ö, Alpar B, Sakınç M, Büyükmeriç Y, Algan O, Erkal T, Keçer M, Akkök R, Karlık G (2001) Is the abrupt drowning of the Black Sea Shelf at 7150 yr BP a myth? Mar Geol 176:65–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gündoğan Y (2012) The engineering geology investigation of the axis site of Big Melen Dam. MSc. Thesis. Institute of Science, İstanbul Technical University

  • Hashash YMA, Musgrove MI, Harmon JA, Ilhan O, Xing G, Numanoglu O, Groholski DR, Phillips CA, Park D (2020) “DEEPSOIL 7.0, User Manual”. Urbana, IL, Board of Trustees of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  • Heyman J (1972) Coulomb’s Memoir on Statics. Cambridge University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • IC Consulenten and DSI (2018) Melen Dam. Complementary site investigations 2017/2018 – Book 1: Interpretative report, July

  • Jiang S, Du C, Hong Y (2013) Failure analysis of a cracked concrete gravity dam under earthquake. Eng Fail Anal 33:265–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karabulut M, Kartal ME (2019) Earthquake response of roller compacted concrete dams including galleries. Struct Eng Mech 72(2):141–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Karabulut M, Kartal ME (2020) Seismic analysis of Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dams considering effect of viscous boundary conditions. Comput Concr 25(3):255–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Kartal ME (2012) Three-dimensional earthquake analysis of roller-compacted concrete dams. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 12(7):2369–2388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kartal ME (2018) An evaluation of peak acceleration amplification coefficients in a CFR dam considering hydrodynamic pressure. J Struct Eng Appl Mechan 1(2):73–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr JW (1995) Upper Glendevon—increasing dam stability. Int Water Power Dam Constr 47(3):36–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer SL (1996) Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering. Prentice-Hall Inc, First edition, New Jersey

  • Labuz JF, Zang A (2012) Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. Rock mechanics and rock engineering 45:975–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Léger P, Javanmardi F (2006) Structural stability of concrete gravity dams strengthened by rockfill buttressing: Hydrostatic load. J Geotech Geoenviron 132:1592–1599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leps TM, Jansen RB (1984) Proposed guidelines for dam seismic stability assessment. USCOLD Newsletter Chap 12:368–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Liapichev YP (2009) Seismic stability and stress-strain state of a new type of FSH-RCC dams, 4th International Symposium on Roller Compacted Concrete Dams, Madrid, Spain, pp 17–19

  • Lopez A, Jones SL, Coy A, Larossi B, France J (2017) Seismic stability analysis and risk assessment of lake elmer thomas dam, Annual Dam Safety Conference; J.W. Marriott Hill Country Hotel, San Antonio Hill Country, San Antonio; United States 10–14:552–565

  • Mizuno M, Itobayashi Y and Ando Y (1981) Constructing a concrete gravity dam on soft rock. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Weak Rock. Tokyo, pp 21–24

  • Oliveira R (1979) Engineering geological problems related to the study, design and construction of dam foundations. Bulletin of the international Association of Engineering Geology 20:4–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira R (2011) Engineering geological investigations for the foundations of large structures-examples of a concrete dam and a long bridge in Portugal. J Mt Sci 8:296–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PLAXIS 2D Manuals (2004) PLAXIS finite element code for soil and rock analysis, 2D –Version 8.6. (Edited by Brinkgreve R.B.J., Broere W. And Waterman D.) Delft University of Technology & PLAXIS, The Netherlands

  • PLAXIS (2019) Scientific Manual.

  • Rayleigh JWS, Lindsay RB (1945) The theory of sound. Dover Publications, New York, p 504

    Google Scholar 

  • RETMC (2021) Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory And Earthquake Research Institute. http://www.koeri.boun.edu.tr/sismo/2/en/. Accessed 25 Apr 2021

  • Rocha M (1964) Statement of the physical problem of the arch dam. Symposium on the Theory of Arch Dams, Southampton

  • Rocha M (1974) Present possibilities of studying foundations of concrete dams. Supplementary report, 3th Congress of the International Society for Rock Mechanics, Denver

  • Rocha M (1975) Some problems related to the rock foundation engineering. Panamerican Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 17–22 November, (in Portuguese)

  • Rocha M (1976) Alguns problemas relativos a Mecánica das Rochas dos materiais de baixa resistencia, Geotecnia. Revista de Sociedade Portuguesa de Geotecnia. No:18, Novembro-Dezembro. pp 3–27 (in Portuguese)

  • Romana M (2012a) The geomechanics classification DMR (Dam Mass Rating, 2012 Ed.), as a tool for safety appraisals of old dams’ foundations

  • Romana M (2012b) Foundations of gravity dams: rock mechanics requirements. Harmonising Rock Engineering and the Environment- Qian-Zhou (eds) Taylor & Francis Group, London

  • Schnabel PB, Lysmer J, Seed HB (1972) SHAKE: A computer program for earthquake response analysis of horizontally layered sites, Report No.EERC-72/12, Earthquake Engineering Research Centre, University of California, Berkeley, 1972

  • Seed HB (1969) The Influence of local soil conditions on earthquake damage, Proceedings, soil dynamics specialty session, Seventh international conference of soil mechanics and foundation engineering, Mexico

  • Slemmons DB (1977) State of the art for assessing earthquake hazards in the United States: report 6, faults and earthquake magnitude. Vicksburg, Miss. Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, Soils and Pavement Laboratory

  • Song S, Feng X, Rao H, Zheng H (2013) Treatment design of geological defects in dam foundation of Jinping I hydropower station. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 5(5):342–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sowers GF (1976) Foundation engineering for weathered bedrock. Rock Engineering for Foundations and Slopes. Proceedings of a specialty conference sponsored by Geotechnical Engineering Division of ASCE, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 15–18(2):32–42

  • Timur E, Aksay A (2002) 1/250.000 Scale geologic map series of Turkey, Adapazarı (Ereğli F24 and F25) Quadrangle. General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, Ankara-Turkey

  • URL-1, https://medyabar.com/haber/3391218/sakarya-nehrindeki-kirliligi-ayyuka-cikardi7-milyon-insanin-kirlettigi-suyu-istanbula-icirdiler. [Last accessed: 23.09.2021]

  • URL-2, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPAnTPu3flg&ab_channel=%C4%B0BBTV. [Last accessed: 06.05.2021]

  • USACE: US Army Corps of Engineers (1995) Gravity dam design—engineering and design (engineer manual), EM 1110-2-2200

  • Wagner C, Galic, D (2019) Risk analysis perspectives on the Camará Dam failure, Dam Safety 2019, United States 8-12:353–368

  • Wells DL, Coppersmith KJ (1994) New empirical relationships among magnitude, rupture length, rupture width, rupture area, and surface displacement. BSSA 84:974–1002

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou LT, Sun X, Sun YM, Feng, FF (2012) Creep damage analytic model of RCCD, Earth and Space 2012—Proceedings of the 13th ASCE Aerospace Division Conference and the 5th NASA/ASCE Workshop on Granular Materials in Space Exploration, 2012, Pages 818–827

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, 06010, Etlik, Keçiören Ankara, Turkey

    Davut Yılmaz

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Izmir Democracy University, 35140, Izmir, Turkey

    Murat Emre Kartal

Authors
  1. Davut Yılmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Murat Emre Kartal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murat Emre Kartal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Responsible Edıtor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yılmaz, D., Kartal, M.E. Structural response and damage evaluation of Melen RCC Dam considering creep effects. Arab J Geosci 14, 2616 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08629-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08629-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation