Engineering St. Francis Dam, Ca. 1926.

Geology

Concrete gravity dam constructed in 1926 in

California collapsed 1928

Failed primary due to existence of weak rocks below

Rock was Schists and soft argillaceous conglomerate

separated by a distinct fault

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 Other dam failures

Engineering Geology
Intelligent and useful application of geological
knowledge to different branches of engineering
constitutes the subject matter of ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY
Includes- Geological studies in the field
and laboratory, Safety and economic
planning
l i andd execution.
ti This
Thi is
i an
extensive field where the science of the
earth and the art of engineering merge
into each other

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 Condition required to success
of dam.
Water tight reservoir basin
Low rate of accumulation of silt
A narrow river channel
Safe foundation
Provision for disposal of surplus water
through suitable gateway
Availability of the required material for
construction nearby

Geology of dam sites and reservoir

Reservoir may fail due to excessive
leakage or as a result of rapid
accumulation of silt.

Some rocks are porous and pervious and

some others are totally impervious.
Unconsolidated or partially consolidated
course sandstones are highly porous and
permeable.

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Geology of dam sites and reservoir
contd
Massive igneous or metamorphic rocks
impervious But they may
are almost impervious.
contain well developed joints and other
weakness planes, shear zones, faults

Geological study should use to find out

the nature and position of water table
and also the nature and structure of the
rocks forming the region

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 Geology of Bridge structure
A railway bridge is being constructed at a height of 186m from bed level,
between chainages 38.430 Km on left abutment to Katra side and chainage
39.087 Km on right abutment to Reasi side.
River is flowing SW
Chainage :38.430 Chainage :38.510
P1 O = Center point of
Viaduct span
bridge
i
E
Lat 31o0445
N
Steel arch Long 74o5452
Chainage :38.775
Katra Side (P10) Viaduct towards katra = 80 m
O
Steel arch span = 265 m
Viaduct towards Reasi = 312 m

Viaduct spans Total length of bridge

80 + 265 +312 = 657 m

Chainage :39.087
River
Reasi Side

Katra side Reasi side

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 Figure showing left abutment at Katra
side with foundation locations of P1b and P1.

800

780

760

740

720

700

680

660
-50

0
38.54
38.52
38.5
50 38.48
38.46

Figure showing right abutment on Reasi

View of left and right abuttment side with foundation locations of P10 to P21

Geology of Bridge structure

Sound rock profile underneath the floor

and walls of natural depression
Foundation and abutment should be
strong
Geological structure of the country rock
shouldnt create any stability problem
Erosional action of the fast running
water should be significant

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Geology of Bridge structure

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 Governing Geological factors
The nature of the country rock along
the alignment of the tunnel
The geological structure of the region
Position of the water table and
prevailing ground water table
condition along the length of the
tunnel

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 Tunneling in rocks
Safety and stability of a tunnel mostly
depends upon the nature of rock. Hard
crystalline rocks are very good but very
difficult to excavate
Moreover they may also contain planes of
weakness. Proper profiling is difficult.
Consolidated massive sandstones are
good but softer ones need linings to
stabilize.

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Lining should vary
point to point

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 Nature of rock, orientation and spacing of
discontinuity, orientation of bedding planes with
respect to the alignment

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Overbreak
Massive and soft rock cause less over
break than hard rock with well defined
and closely spaced discontinuity planes
In sedimentary rock more over break
occurs along the strike than the dip
Too much over break increases the cost of
tunneling

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Stability of Hill slopes
Safety and stability governs by
The nature of the rocks occurring along
the slope or cutting wall
The geological structure of the country
rock
The prevailing ground water conditions
along the slope or cutting wall

Stability of Hill slopes

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Building stones
Strength and durability mineral
composition, texture and structure
Colour and beauty
Cost

Granite composed of quartz,

quartz feldspar and
mica are st carbonate rocks marble,
limestone are relatively weak and worn
out easily rong and durable where as

Building material(aggregates)
road metals
Aggregates should be strong and
durable and there shouldnt be
tendency to react with cement

For g
good road metals a)) hard b)) tough
g
c) resistant to abrasion d) high
cementing value

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