Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soft Rocks in Underground Hydroelectric Schemes

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Soft Rock Mechanics and Engineering

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the behavior of underground works associated to hydroelectric schemes when soft rocks formations are present. The work starts with a brief introduction to the different types of underground hydroelectric schemes with a reference to the specific works related to the hydraulic circuit, to the powerhouse complex and to surge chambers. Considerations about risk analysis and risk management are presented taking into consideration soft rock masses. Examples of application of underground hydroelectric schemes are illustrated. The first case is related to the Socorridos hydroelectric scheme in Madeira Island, Portugal, in volcanic formations. Emphasis is made to the existence of weak formations and to the development of a new empirical system for volcanic rock formations. The Mingtan underground pumped station in Taiwan presented complex geological formations. Reference is made for the LFJ in situ tests performed for deformability evaluation. Another case is related to a wedge failure occurred at Cahora Bassa, Mozambique due to the existence of a low strength surface. The last case is related to the mega-project Jinping II, in China. Deep tunnels intersected by chlorite schists are studied in detail. A conclusion is drawn.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • ASCE (1996) Rock foundations (Technical Engineering and Design Guides as adapted from US Army Corps of Engineers, no. 16). American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, p 129

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton N (2000) TBM tunneling in jointed and faulted rock. Balkema, Rotterdam, p 172

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieniawski Z (1989) Engineering rock mass classification. US Corps of Engineering, Technical Report GL-799-19. WES, Vicksburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Cafofo P (2006) Underground works of the Socorridos scheme. Report for Geotechnical Design discipline. University of Minho, Guimaraes, p 131. (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cafofo P, Sousa LR (2007) Innovative underground works at Socorridos, Madeira Island, Portugal. Workshop on Volcanic Rocks. Taylor and Francis Group, Ponta Delgada, pp 73–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Cafofo P, Sousa LR, Moura F (2007) In: Kaliampakos D, Bernardos A (eds) Innovative underground works at Madeira Island, Portugal. 11th ACUUS Conference on Underground Space: Expanding the Frontiers. NTUA Press, Athens, pp 137–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Einstein H (2002) Risk assessment and management in geotechnical engineering. 8th Portuguese Geotechnical Congress, Lisbon, pp 2237–2262

    Google Scholar 

  • Eskesen S, Tengborg P, Kampmann J, Veicherts T (2004) Guidelines for tunnelling risk management. International Tunnelling Association, Working Group No. 2. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 19:217–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng XT, Jiang Q, Sousa LR, Miranda T (2012) Underground hydroelectric power-schemes. In: Sousa LM, Vargas EA, Fernandes MM, Azevedo RF (eds) Innovative numerical modeling in geomechanics. Taylor & Francis, London, pp 13–50

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Geoguide 4 (1992) Guide to cavern engineering. Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong, p 147

    Google Scholar 

  • HCB (2018) Hydroelectric of Cahora Bassa. www.hcb.co.mz

  • He M (2014) Latest progress of soft rock mechanics and engineering in China. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 6:165–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He M, Sousa LR, Sousa RL, Gomes A, Vargas E, Zhang N (2011) Risk assessment of CO2 injection processes and storage in carboniferous formations: a review. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 3(1):39–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoek E (2007a) Practical rock engineering. www.rocscience.com

  • Hoek E (2007b) Big trends in bad rock. Therzaghi lecture. ASCE J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 127(9):726–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanji MA (2014) Critical issues in soft rocks. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 6:186–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamas LN (1993) Contributions to understanding the hydromechanical behavior of pressure tunnels. PhD Thesis. Imperial College, London, p 419

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemos JV (2010) Modeling rock masses in large underground works. In: Cruz, Cunha, Maia, Pinto (eds) Conference on Hydroelectric Schemes in Portugal. A New Cycle. University of Porto, Porto, pp 143–155. (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Menezes AT, Varela FM, Sousa LR, Moura F (2007) Geomechanical studies for a road tunnel in volcanic formations. ITA Congress, Prague

    Google Scholar 

  • Miranda T, Sousa LR, Gomes AT, Tinoco J, Ferreira C (2018) Volcanic rocks geomechanical characterization by using empiric systems. J Rock Mech Geotech Eng 10(2018):138–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moura F, Sousa LR (2007) Road tunnels at Madeira Island, Portugal. In: Malheiro AM, Nunes JC (eds) Workshop on volcanic rocks. Taylor and Francis Group, Ponta Delgada, pp 201–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuss L, Hansen K, Marsumoto N (2017) Earthquake performance of concrete dams. Seismic Analysis of Concrete Dams Workshop, USSD Conference, New Orleans, PPT presentation

    Google Scholar 

  • Popielak R, Weining W (2010) Engineering and design services for excavation – DUSEL. Preliminary Design, Preliminary Report #2, Contract D10-04, Lakewood, Colorado, p 104

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocha M (1975) Some problems regarding rock mechanics of low strength materials. V Pan-American Congress on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Buenos Aires, pp 489–514. (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocha M (1976) Underground structures. LNEC, Lisbon. (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocha M (1978) Analysis and design of the foundation of concrete dams. ISRM Symp. on Rock Mechanics Applied to Dam Foundations, Rio de Janeiro, vol 3, pp 3.11–3.70

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues FP, Grossman NF, Rodrigues LF (1978) Rock mechanics tests of the Mingtan pumped storage project. LNEC report. LNEC, Lisbon. 2 Vol

    Google Scholar 

  • Schleiss A (2000) Hydraulic schemes. EFPL, Lausanne, p 482. (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Serafim L, Pereira P (1983) Considerations on the geomechanical classification of Bieniawski. Int. Symp. Engineering Geology and Underground Construction, Lisbon, vol 1, pp 33–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Silveira A, Azevedo M, Costa P (1974) Contribution to the study of the underground powerhouse of Cahora Bassa. LNEC, Memory no. 430. LNEC, Lisbon. (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR (1976) Modern methods for design of tunnels – mathematical models. J Geotecnia (16):51–81. (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR (1983) Three-dimensional analysis of large underground power stations. ISRM Congress, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR (2006) Learning with accidents and damage associated to underground works. In: Matos AC, Sousa LR, Kleberger J, Pinto PL (eds) Geotechnical risks in rock tunnels. Taylor & Francis, London, pp 7–39

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa RL (2010) Risk analysis for tunneling projects. MIT, PhD Thesis, Cambridge, p 589

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR, Lamas LN, Martins CS (1994) Applications of computational mechanics to underground structures in hydraulic projects. In: Vargas E, Azevedo R, Sousa LR, Fernandes MM (eds) 1st Int. Workshop on Applications of Computational Mechanics in Geotechnical Engineering. Balkema, Rio de Janeiro, pp 15–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR, Ramos JM, Silva HS (1995) Cahora-Bassa hydroelectric scheme. A new monitoring plan. 8th ISRM Congress, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR, Chapman D, Miranda T (2010) Deep rock foundations of skyscrapers. J Soil Rock 33(1):3–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa LR, Sousa RL, Zhou C, Karam K (2018) Methodology for evaluating geomechanical properties of soft rock masses by laboratory and in situ tests. In: Soft rock masses. Springer, New York, p 33

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu SY, Feng X, Sousa LR (2010) Jinping II mega hydropower project, China. Int. Conf. on Hydroelectric Schemes in Portugal. A new cycle, Porto, pp 223–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyllie D (1999) Foundations on rock. E & FN Spon, London, p 401

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang F, Zhang C, Zhou H, Liu N, Zhang Y, Azhar MU, Dai F (2017) The long-term safety of a deeply buried soft rock tunnel lining under inside-to-outside seepage conditions. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 67:132–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang CQ, Zhou H, Feng XT (2011) An index for estimating the stability of brittle surrounding rock mass—FAI and its engineering application. Rock Mech Rock Eng 44:401–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

A special acknowledgement is made to Chunsheng Zhang, Xiangrong Chen, Jing Hou, and Yang Zhang for the contribution to the collection of the field information about the deep headrace tunnels at the Jinping II hydropower station.

A special acknowledgement is made to Paulo Cafofo for his contribution to the study of Socorridos hydroelectric scheme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tongji University, Shanghai, China

    Luís Ribeiro e Sousa

  2. SKL-GDUE of China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China

    Luís Ribeiro e Sousa

  3. SKL-GGE, Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China

    Hui Zhou & Chuanqing Zhang

  4. Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Rita Leal e Sousa

Authors
  1. Luís Ribeiro e Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hui Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rita Leal e Sousa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chuanqing Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Milton Kanji

  2. State Key Laboratory for GeoMechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Tongji University, Beijing, China

    Manchao He

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Luís Ribeiro e Sousa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Ribeiro e Sousa, L., Zhou, H., Leal e Sousa, R., Zhang, C. (2020). Soft Rocks in Underground Hydroelectric Schemes. In: Kanji, M., He, M., Ribeiro e Sousa, L. (eds) Soft Rock Mechanics and Engineering . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29477-9_20

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation