Nield 2019 PDF

Stability Analysis for the Right Abutment Spillway – Isabella Dam, CA
OUTLINE
A. PROJECT INFORMATION
1. Project Location
2. Project Description
3. Site Geology
B. SPILLWAY STABILITY
1. Founding Elevations
2. Plane Analysis
3. Wedge Analysis
C. CUT-SLOPE STABILITY
1. Stereonet Analysis
2. Construction Concerns
BUILDING STRONG® 2
and Taking Care of People!
Isabella Dam – Project Location
Vicinity Map
Kern River
Watershed
ISABELLA DAM
ISABELLA DAM
Bakersfield
BUILDING STRONG® 3
Isabella Dam – Site Plan
Constructed 1948-1953
Primary Purposes: Flood control (~ 74%);
Irrigation (~21%);
Non-Federal Hydropower (~5%) AUXILIARY DAM
• 100 ft high
• Homogeneous silty sand
• Foundation = alluvial soils
and bedrock
MAIN DAM
• 185 ft high
• Zoned earth fill (almost homogeneous)
• Foundation primarily granitic bedrock
SPILLWAY
• Ungated spillway
OUTLET WORKS • Ogee Weir
• Hydropower
BUILDING STRONG® 4
Primary Issues – Potential Failure Modes
Kern Canyon Fault

(Previous Interp: Inactive)
Erosion Through Rupture Auxiliary Dam
a Crack Near the
Main Dam Crest
Cross Section – Kern Caynon Fault – Auxiliary Dam
Seismic Stability
of Borel Conduit
and Tower
Undersized
spillway
Internal Erosion and Erosion Along the

Hydrologic Liquefaction Potential of the Conduit
Overtopping Foundation Alluvium
BUILDING STRONG®
Consequences of Dam Failure - Inundation
Vicinity Map
Kern River
ISABELLA Watershed
DAM
Subsequent Immediate
Inundation Inundation
Area Area
BUILDING STRONG®
Isabella Dam – Proposed Modifications
Kern Canyon Fault
Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam
Existing
Service Spillway
BUILDING STRONG® 7
Proposed Modifications – Emergency Spillway
Proposed Kern Canyon Fault
Emergency Spillway
Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam
Upstream
Labyrinth Weir
Existing
Service Spillway
Emergency Spillway Physical Model
BUILDING STRONG® 8
Proposed Modifications – Emergency Spillway
Emergency Spillway
Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam
Existing
Service Spillway
BUILDING STRONG® 9
Proposed Modifications – Main Dam
Emergency Spillway
Main Dam
Cross Section - Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam
 Raise Top of Main Dam by 16’

 Downstream Filter & Drain
BUILDING STRONG® 10
Proposed Modifications – Main Dam
Emergency Spillway
Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam

Proposed Modifications – Auxiliary Dam
Emergency Spillway
Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam
Section - Auxiliary Dam Inside Fault Zone

 Raise Top of Auxiliary Dam by 16’

 Downstream Buttress with Filter & Drain
SectionSTRONG
BUILDING - Auxiliary Dam Outside Fault Zone 12
®
Proposed Modifications
Emergency Spillway
Main Dam
Auxiliary Dam

 Raise Top of Auxiliary Dam by 16’

 Downstream Buttress with Filter & Drain
Proposed Modifications – Right Abutment Spillway
Main Dam
Right Abutment Spillway
State Route 155
Existing
3D Image ServiceRight
of Proposed Spillway
Abutment Spillway
Site Geology
Mount Adelaide
(early Cretaceous)  Cretaceous-aged Alta Sierra Granite
 Light gray, medium grained, hard

Alta Sierra
(late Cretaceous)  Varying degrees of weathering
Right Abutment Spillway
 Moderate to severely fractured
Kern River
Granite
Dam (late Cretaceous)
Geologic Map – US Geologic Survey

Mount Adelaide
Existing Service Spillway
(early Cretaceous)
Exploratory Drilling
1F-16-02
Proposed
Right
Abutment
1F-13-13 Core Samples
Spillway
1F-13-14
1F-13-15
1F-13-16
1F-13-17 Exploratory Drilling
1F-16-04 Main Dam

Raised 16’
1F-16-03
Inclined Boring
Vertical Boring
Boring Location Plan

Down-Hole Camera
BUILDING STRONG® Down-Hole
16 Camera Images
Granite - Weathering
 Decomposed Granite: reddish brown,
soft, soil-like w/ relic bedrock structure,
under 2,000 psi UCS
 Highly Weathered Granite: light reddish

brown, soft to mod. hard, individual
grains can be easily plucked with a knife,
2,000 – 8,500 psi UCS. Predominant
rock type at spillway site.
 Moderately Weathered Granite: light

reddish gray, moderately hard to hard,
difficult to pluck individual grains with
knife, 8,500 to 10,000 psi UCS.
Boring F1-13-15 Showing Varying Degrees of Weathering
 Slightly or Unweathered Granite: Light
gray, hard, 10,000 to 25,000 psi UCS.
Discontinuities
SR 155
Main
Dam
Exposure at Site - Showing Low-Angled Joints
 Typical Fracture: planar shape; smooth surface;

occasionally open, iron stained or clay coated; and
continuous (10’ to +100’ length)
 Distinct Joint Sets (A - K)
 Moderate to intensely fractured
Aerial View - Showing High-Angled Joint Sets  Shear Zones
OUTLINE
1. Project Location
3. Site Geology
2. Plane Analysis
3. Wedge Analysis
Potential Spillway Erosion - Consequences
Isabella Dam – Right Abutment Spillway Oroville Dam - Spillway Erosion
Right Abutment Spillway - Design
Upstream Dam Crest Downstream
Plan View
Main
Dam
Profile View
Founding Elevation – Typical Upstream of Dam Monolith 2680
Top of Ground Soil
Boring 2660
DG Decomposed Granite
F1-16-02
DRAIN
Foundation Concrete HW Highly Weathered Granite
2
SOIL (SM)
1 2640
DG Spillway
HW MW Moderately Weathered
Temporary Granite
Detour MW
2620
Road SW
Slightly Weathered
HW Granite
Preliminary
Approximate Base Foundation 100 0
2600 UW Unweathered Granite
RQD
of Near-Surface Elevations WEATHERING
Decomposed  Foundation surface will

Granite 2580 be free of all soil,
Decomposed Granite
and loose rock.
2560
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100  Foundation geometry will
Cross Section – Station 101+70 consist of stair-stepped
series of horizontal
BUILDING STRONG® 22 surfaces.
Founding Elevation – Typical Dam Crest Monolith 2680
Top of Ground Soil
Boring 2660
Raised Dam Embankment F1-13-14
2
1 HW Highly Weathered Granite
DRAIN
2640
Dam GP
& Spillway MW Moderately Weathered
Embankment GM Granite
SP
DG
HW
Preliminary Foundation Elevations 2620
Slightly Weathered
Foundation Concrete SW
Granite
MW
&
HW

HW
Approximate Base of Near-  Foundation surface will

Surface Decomposed Granite 2580 be free of all soil,
Approximate Top of Rock Decomposed Granite
and loose rock.
2560
Founding Elevation – Typical Downstream Monolith 2680
Top of Ground Soil
2660
Boring
F1-16-04 HW Highly Weathered Granite
2640
DRAIN
Foundation Concrete Spillway 2 MW Moderately Weathered
SW 1 Granite
DG
2620
Temporary Foundation Drain SW
Slightly Weathered
Detour Road Granite
HW
Preliminary Foundation Elevations
Approximate Base of  Foundation surface will

Near-Surface Decomposed Granite 2580 be free of all soil,
Decomposed Granite
and loose rock.
2560
Preliminary Foundation Elevations
Upstream Dam Downstream
Crest
Foundation Drains
Joint Drains
Foundation Concrete Profile View

 Final foundation elevations will be established
in the field.
 Experienced on-site geologist is required.
 Localized problematic areas are expected.
 Dental concrete may be required.

Core Samples from Boring 1F-16-02
Spillway Structure - Design Details
Dowel Bars
Waterstop
Foundation Drain
Section - Downstream - Foundation Drain

Expansion Joint Detail
Joint Drains
Joint Drain
Foundation
Drains
BUILDING STRONG
Joint Drain
® Detail 26 Profile View
Planar Sliding Stability – Input Parameters
Bedrock Exposures – Joint Orientations
 Sliding Resistance for Highly Weathered Granite:

phi = 33 degrees, cohesion = 0 psi
 5 degree waviness or i angle (as measured in field)
 Maximum design earthquake: horizontal PGA 0.3g,

vertical PGA 0.21g. Seismic coefficient 0.2 (2/3 of 0.3g) Dam Construction Profile
Planar Sliding – Downstream Monolith – Load Cases
2680
Required
Load Case Loading Factor of Top of Ground
14o Plane Condition Safety
Dry Joints 2660
Usual 1.5
no uplift
Rain - Wet Joints Unusual 1.3
full uplift
Flood PMF Spillway 2640
full uplift Extreme 1.1
Earthquake MDE
no uplift Extreme 1.1
Uplift - Groundwater 2620
Potential Failure Plane

(47.8’ length, 14 degree inclination) 2600
Approximate Base of
Near-Surface 2580
Decomposed Granite
2560
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Cross Section – Downstream of Dam – 14o Plane
Planar Sliding – Downstream Monolith – Load Cases
2680
Required
Dry Joints 2660
Usual 1.5
no uplift
Rain - Wet Joints Unusual 1.3
full uplift
Flood PMF 2640
full uplift Extreme 1.1 Spillway
Earthquake MDE
no uplift Extreme 1.1
2620

(109’ length, 20 degree inclination) 2600
Approximate Base of
Near-Surface Decomposed Granite 2580
2560
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Cross Section – Downstream of Dam – 20o Plane
Planar Sliding – Dam Crest – Load Cases - Construction
2680
Required
Dry Joints 2660
Usual 1.5
no uplift
Rain - Wet Joints Unusual 2
1.3
full uplift 1
DRAIN
2640
Spillway
SP
Dam 2620
Uplift - Groundwater
Embankment
(47.8’ length, 14 degree inclination) 2600
Approximate Base of
Near-Surface Decomposed Granite 2580
2560
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Cross Section – Station 102+90
2D Planar Sliding Equation
2D Planar Sliding Stability – Summary & Sensitivity
3D Wedge Analysis
Wedge - Two Joints

w/ Tension Plane
Hypothetical Wedge
Major Joint Sets
Detrimental Wedges
 Utilized Swedge program

from Rocscience
 Two detrimental wedges:

Joint Sets A&C
Joint Sets D&E
 Sliding resistance of
Highly Weathered
Granite: phi = 33o, c = 0
psi w/ 5o waviness
added
Major Joint Sets Detrimental Wedges
Wedge Configurations
Tension Plane Tension Plane
Joint Sets D&E Joint Sets D&E Joint Sets A&C Joint Sets A&C
With Tension Plane W/O Tension Plane With Tension Plane W/O Tension Plane
BUILDING STRONG®
Wedge Analysis – Load Cases
Weight of Structure Added Weight of

Added PMF Flow
Horizontal
Force
Uplift
Earthquake Force
Dry Joints Rain Event PMF Flood MDE Earthquake

Usual Water Filled Joints Water Filled Joints Dry Joints
Unusual Extreme Extreme
BUILDING STRONG®
3D Wedge Stability – Summary & Sensitivity
Sensitivity – Wedge D&E w/

Tension Plane (wet)
OUTLINE
1. Project Location
3. Site Geology
2. Plane Analysis
3. Wedge Analysis
Cut-Slope Stability
2680
Cut-Slope Top of Ground
2660
Raised Dam Embankment
2
1
2640
DRAIN
Spillway
SP
Preliminary Foundation Elevations2620
Dam
Embankment Foundation Concrete
2600
Approximate Base of
Near-Surface Decomposed Granite
2580
Approximate Top of Rock
2560
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Cross Section – Station 102+90
Kinematic Analysis – Input Parameters
Existing Slope
Sliding Resistance for Highly Weathered Granite:

phi = 33 degrees, cohesion = 0 psi
BUILDING STRONG®
Stereographic Projection – Planar Failure
West Side Cut Slope ½:1 East Side Cut Slope ½:1
Stereographic Projection – Wedge Failure
Stereographic Projection – Toppling Failure

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Stability Analysis for the Right Abutment Spillway – Isabella Dam, CA

Kern Canyon Fault

Cross Section – Kern Caynon Fault – Auxiliary Dam

Internal Erosion and Erosion Along the

Emergency Spillway Physical Model

 Raise Top of Main Dam by 16’

 Raise Top of Main Dam by 16’

 Raise Top of Main Dam by 16’

 Raise Top of Auxiliary Dam by 16’

 Raise Top of Main Dam by 16’

 Raise Top of Auxiliary Dam by 16’

Right Abutment Spillway

State Route 155

 Light gray, medium grained, hard

Geologic Map – US Geologic Survey

1F-16-04 Main Dam

Boring Location Plan

 Highly Weathered Granite: light reddish

 Moderately Weathered Granite: light

Exposure at Site - Showing Low-Angled Joints

 Typical Fracture: planar shape; smooth surface;

Isabella Dam – Right Abutment Spillway Oroville Dam - Spillway Erosion

Upstream Dam Crest Downstream

Top of Ground Soil

of Near-Surface Elevations WEATHERING

Decomposed  Foundation surface will

Top of Ground Soil

2600 UW Unweathered Granite

Approximate Base of Near-  Foundation surface will

Top of Ground Soil

Approximate Base of  Foundation surface will

Foundation Concrete Profile View

 Experienced on-site geologist is required.

 Localized problematic areas are expected.

 Dental concrete may be required.

Section - Downstream - Foundation Drain

Bedrock Exposures – Joint Orientations

 Sliding Resistance for Highly Weathered Granite:

 5 degree waviness or i angle (as measured in field)

 Maximum design earthquake: horizontal PGA 0.3g,

Potential Failure Plane

Potential Failure Plane

Wedge - Two Joints

Major Joint Sets

 Utilized Swedge program

 Two detrimental wedges:

Major Joint Sets Detrimental Wedges

Tension Plane Tension Plane

Weight of Structure Added Weight of

Dry Joints Rain Event PMF Flood MDE Earthquake

Sensitivity – Wedge D&E w/

Cut-Slope Top of Ground

Sliding Resistance for Highly Weathered Granite:

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