PERFORMANCE OF EMBANKMENT AND FOUNDATION CUT-OFF AT ARMINOU DAM, CYPRUS

摘要

Arminou dam, a 42 m high gravel fill dam with central clay core, was constructed in the period 1995-1998. A single 0.8m wide plastic concrete diaphragm wall, together with adjacent bentonite cement alluvial grouting, provides a seepage cut-off through the 15 m depth of alluvium in the valley floor. The paper describes the instrumentation that was installed in the dam, and assesses the readings that were obtained during construction and first impounding. The paper also describes the exhumation of the trial panels for the diaphragm wall, and the significance of the finding of bentonite infill to construction joints between panels to both dam safety and the risk of hydraulic fracture of the diaphragm wall. It concludes that the performance of the dam has been satisfactory, but recommends further research into hydraulic fracture of diaphragm walls, and related issues.