Summary
At two dam construction sites in Central America geophysical tests were conducted in a karstic environment in order to evaluate the applicability of indirect methods for detecting cavities, fissures and other anomalous features. Geophysical techniques evaluated were ground probing, radar, acoustic seismic and refraction seismic methods. Based upon the results of geophysical tests and their comparison to known geologic conditions it was concluded that the radar technique showed the greates promise for use as an aid and “guiding-tool” in the execution of the grouting programs of either sites. The content of this paper addresses the rational leading to this conclusion.
Résumé
Pour évaluer les possibilités de détection des cavités, des fissures et autres anomalies dans un environnement karstique par des méthodes indirectes, de essais géophysiques ont été conduits sur deux chantiers de barrage en Amérique Centrale. Les méthodes essayées ont été le radar, la sismique haute fréquence à transmission et la sismique réfraction. La comparaison des résultats de ces essais avec les conditions géologiques effectivement observées a démontré que la technique radar était la plus prometteuse pour être utilisée comme aide et mesure de contrôle dans l'exécution des programmes d'injection des deux sites. Les raisons qui ont mené à cette conclusion sont présentées dans cet article.
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Ballard, R.F., Cuenod, Y. & Jenni, J.P. Detection of karst cavities by geophysical methods. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 26, 153–157 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594210
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594210