MONITORING OF HEALTH & BEHAVIOR WITH THE HELP OF INSTRUMENTS

INSTALLED IN AND AROUND THE BODY OF PANDOH DAM

Rajesh Vashisht
Senior Design Engineer
Bhakra Beas Management Board, Nangal Township, Punjab

SYNOPSIS
Pandoh Dam is a Diversion Earth-cum Rock fill Darn of Beas Sutlej Link Project (990MW) which
envisages diversion of Beas River water to Sutlej River through the longest water Conductor
System at present in Himachal Pradesh. All types of Instruments needed to monitor the
behavior of an Earthen Darn in its construction as well as post-construction stage such as
piezometers, settlement installations, slope indicators, accellerographs etc. have been provided
within the body of the Dam. Performance of instruments greatly helps in checking and
validating the theories used in design for future projects. Therefore, the instruments provided
should have long durability. Monitoring of the performance of a Dam through proper
maintenance of the best performing instrumentation ensures the safety of the structure by
timely implementation of remedial measures. This paper deals with the various types of
instruments provided in Pandoh Dam, their maintenance and performance in the operation
stage.

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Pandoh Dam is a diversion dam constructed across a narrow gorge in 1977 on river Beas about
21 kms (13 miles) upstream of the town Mandi in Himachal Pradesh on Mandi-Kulu Road. It is
an earth-cum-rockfill darn 76.2 m (250 ft) in height above the deepest foundation level, 61m
(200 ft) above the river bed level, with top at EI.899.16 m (2950 ft) and free board above the
maximum reservoir level as 2.74 m (9 ft). The length at the top is 255.5 m (836 ft). The width at
the top of dam is 12.19 m (40 ft). The chute spillway with flip bucket for the maximum design
out flow of 9939 cumecs (3,51,000 cusecs) has been provided on the left abutment. There are
five bays in which radial gates of size 12 m x 13 m (39.37 ft x 42.65 ft) have been installed for
regulating flow of water. Each gate is independently operated by 200 Tonnes capacity cylindrical
hydraulic hoist.
The paper intends to describe performance review of instruments installed in Pandoh Dam. Also
the problems encountered along with the remedial measures taken have been discussed.
2.0 INSTRUMENTS INSTALLED IN PANDOH DAM
Various instruments have been installed in Pandoh Dam for monitoring the behavior of Dam e.g.
pore pressure, deformations, seepage, seismicity etc.

2.1 Piezometers
Pandoh Dam is a diversion dam with a small reservoir. There is a very limited range of variation
of the reservoir level. As such, the piezometer readings do not reflect the true picture, there
being often not enough time for the piezometric pressures to respond to & stabilize after the
change of reservoir level. Therefore, these observations are only indicative in nature and no
firm conclusions can be drawn from them.
a) Foundation Type Piezometers
The object of the foundation type piezometers is to assess the pore pressures developed in the
foundation. These also provide information of the effectiveness of the cut off trench. In all 7
Nos. foundation type piezometers have been provided.
b) Embankment Type Piezometers
In all, 15 Nos. embankment type piezometers have been installed in the dam embankment at
the main instrument plane at right angles to the axis of the dam to measure the pore pressure
developed therein and to determine the location of pheratic surfaces.
c) Porous Tube Piezometers
4 Nos. porous tube piezometers have been installed at the downstream bench El. 853.44m
at (2800 ft) to monitor the pore pressures in the area near the toe of the dam foundation.

2.2 Relief Wells

5 Nos. relief wells in a row have been provided at the toe of the dam in the river bed portion in
order to release the seepage water percolating through the foundation of the dam so as to
avoid building up any pressure in the foundations.

2.3 Slope Indicators

To record vertical and horizontal displacements within the dam embankment, 1 Nos. slope
indicators in the embankment and one in the abutment have been installed.

2.4 Surface Settlement Points

The surface settlement points have been arranged in a row parallel to the axis of the dam. There
are two rows (9No.) on the upstream slope and four rows (18No.) on downstream slope. In
addition, 6 parapet settlement plates have been embedded in upstream of dam parapet. The
settlement and the horizontal movement perpendicular to dam axis of the individual surface
settlement points are observed with reference to bench marks/control targets established
earlier and assumed to be outside the influence of the reservoir loadings. These have been
provided to determine cumulative settlement and horizontal deflection normal to center line of
the crest of dam.

2.5 Uplift Pressure Measurement in Spillway Gallery

Uplift pressure pipes have been provided in the drainage gallery at EI.868.68 m (2850 ft) to
measure the uplift pressure of underground seepage water, 14 nos. 65mm dia. uplift pressure
pipes have been provided in the in the four wings of the drainage gallery.

2.6 Seepage and Drainage Devices

A number of drainage and weep holes have been provided in the various galleries & tunnels.
These have been provided to drain out water thereby relieving and preventing the building up
of hydro-static pressures. A few holes have been selected out of these drainage and weep holes
to provide information regarding sulphate contents of the seepage water coming out from these
holes. There are about 112 nos. drainage holes in the left abutment galleries and about 134
number drainage holes in the right abutment.

2.7 Seismographs and Accelerographs

In order to study the seismicity in the project area, a net work of closely spaced seismological
observatories have been provided at various locations e.g. Dharamshala, Chandigarh etc. Two
No. RESA IV strong motion accelorographs, one at top of Pandoh Dam & other near toe of the
dam were provided to obtain simultaneously response of the dam relative to a certain ground
movement. These instruments were installed under the charge of “School of earthquake
Engineering, Roorkee” in the year 1973. The minimum value of acceleration at which
instrument starts operating is 0.02g. In addition to this two nos. latest design digital tri-axial
strong motion accelrographs, ‘SMACH’ SM-2 type were also installed in July, 1997, one at top of
the dam & other at sediment laboratory Pandoh to record any ground acceleration.
3.0 PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF INSTRUMENTATION

The performance review of instrumentation reveals that nothing abnormal has happened and
the dam has performed well and is safe vis-a-vis various parameters during the last 20 years.

3.1 Foundation Type Piezometers

Tip No.1,2 & 3 are located upstream of the grout curtain and tip No.4,5,6 & 7 are located
downstream thereof, the latter being relatively away from the reservoir . These 7 Nos.
foundation type piezometers installed in the foundation of the dam. All are working well.

3.2 Embankment type Piezometers

Out of 15 Nos. embankment type piezometers (No.8 to 22), tip No.14, 19 & 20 are not working.
It is observed that the pore pressures in the core zone have almost stabilized and confirms the
pattern as envisaged at design stage. Fig. 4 shows pore water potentials in the dam.

3.3 Porous Tube Piezometer

It is seen that the underground water surface profile slopes slightly downward from P.T.P. No.1
to 4 i.e. towards the river channel. It is further seen that the water surface levels in the PTP’s
respond to the variation of tail water level except P.T.P No. 3 which has shown erratic behavior.
The variations in the water level occurring within the stratum are not dependent on the
upstream reservoir level variations. This indicates a slow penetration of reservoir seepage, on
account of low permeability of foundation rock and effectiveness of grout curtain. The porous
tube piezometers indicate that pore water pressures have since stabilized as is clear from Fig. 5.

3.4 Relief Wells

The study of the relative water surface elevations in the wells (No.1 to 5) indicates that the sub
surface water profile slopes from relief wells No.1 to 5 i.e. towards the river channel, as
expected, this trend being similar to the trend noticed in the PTP’s .It is observed that tail water
levels have an effect on the water surface elevations observed in the relief wells, conforming to
the general earlier pattern observed during the previous years. There is however, no discharge
through any of the well.

3.5 Slope Indicators

Slope indicator No.1& 2 represents the settlement at top of each layer of the fill. It has been
seen that the dam embankment has generally stabilized and there has been practically no
change in settlement for last few years.
Slope indicator No. 1& 2 indicates the horizontal movement of the casings in the upstream -
downstream direction (i.e., normal to the axis of the dam) and in the left-right direction (i.e.
parallel to the axis of the dam). It has been seen from slope indicator No.1 (located in the
middle of the Dam), the horizontal movements are more in the downstream direction than in
left-right direction, as expected. The horizontal movements of slope indicator No.2 (located
towards spillway) are predominantly towards the right side. Further, the upstream –
downstream movement of casings is generally toward the downstream side as compared to the
initial position of the casings. It has been observed that the site conditions have stabilized as
there was no significant movement for the last few years.

3.6 Surface Settlement Points

The vertical settlement and horizontal movement perpendicular to dam axis, with reference to
initial position, in respect of each row of parapet/ surface settlement points located at top of
dam, on the u/s and d/s of dam shows that maximum vertical settlement of any point has been
202 mm (7.96 inch) at point No.4 at 30.48 m u/s of axis of dam. The maximum horizontal
movement has been 156 mm (6.14 inch) at point No.2 at 48.77 m downstream of dam axis.
Monitoring of settlement points was also done to know the health status of the u/s protection
works & the observations in respect of vertical settlement and horizontal movement
(perpendicular to dam axis) on settlement points 1 to 5 located 30.48 m (100 ft.) upstream of
dam axis at El.886.97 m (2910 ft. It is seen that the maximum vertical settlement was at point
No.4 and was of the order of 202 mm (7.96 inch). The maximum horizontal movement was at
point No. 3 and was of the order of 108 mm (4.25 inch) towards upstream side. The
observations of the settlement points located at 77.11 m (252.99 feet) upstream of dam axis at
El.868.68 m (2850 ft), could not be taken as these points remained submerged under water.
The settlement of u/s dam slope is relatively more, possibly due to saturation & rapid variation
of Pandoh Reservoir level.

3.7 Uplift Pressure Measurement in Spillway Gallery

It has been observed that the water levels in most of the uplift pressure pipes are either below
the top of the pipes in the gallery or at best at the top of the pipes with negligible flow of water.
The seepage discharge from the galleries under spillway crest and flip buckets has been normal.

3.8 Seepage and Drainage Devices

The discharge from drainage& weep holes in tunnel and gallery shows soluble salts (mainly
sulphates). Continuous monitoring of the seepage discharge for sulphate contents from
drainage/weep holes is being done. The report of the Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity tests conducted
by the CS&MRS New Delhi from April,1992 to April,1995, Nov.,1995 to June,1996, Jan.,1998,
March,1999, March, 2000 , April,2004, May,2006, March, 2010 , April, 2013 , Feb., 2014 and
Aug.,2016 has been received. In the received reports it was concluded that no significant
deterioration of concrete quality has taken place with the time over the monitoring period. The
overall quality of concrete is good.

3.9 Seismographs and Accelerographs

Two No. RESA IV strong motion accelorographs have now become obsolete due to non-
availability of projection paper in the market. Digital tri-axial strong motion accelrographs,
‘SMACH’ SM-2 is not working because the software of these instruments is not available in the
market as such the data retrieval is not possible. Four nos. seismological observatories situated
at Pong, Jawalamukhi, Shimla & Sundernagar under Beas Project have been closed w.e.f.
29.02.2012 by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Hence no seismic report has been
furnished by IMD for this period.
There has been no increase in the seismic activity in the area around Pandoh dam since the
filling of Pandoh reservoir and there is no apparent co-relation established so far between the
seismic activity around Pandoh Dam and water level of the Pandoh Reservoir.

4.0 CONCLUSIONS

a) Pore pressures in the core zone of the dam indicate that steady state seepage conditions
have more or less stabilized in the core zone and conform to the pattern envisaged during
commissioning stage.
b) The porous tube piezometers indicate that pore pressures are less than one third of fill
pressure, indicating sufficient safety against upward movement of downstream foundation
strata.
c) Water surface elevations in the relief wells are affected by T.W.L. as expected. There is,
however, no discharge through any of the wells.
d) The data of surface settlement points indicates that the maximum vertical settlement of any
point located upstream of dam axis has been about 202 mm (7.96 inch) which is same as
compared to last year, while horizontal movement has been of the order of 156 mm (6.14 inch)
towards the downstream which is almost of the same order as for last few years.
e) The data of slope indicators surface settlement points reveal that the dam embankment has
generally stabilized.
f) The seepage discharge from galleries under the spillway crest was slightly less as compared to
last year. The seepage discharge from gallery under flip bucket was slightly more as of last year.
e) The problem of sulphate contents in seepage water is being monitored regularly. The perusal
of data indicates that there has been no appreciable change in the sulphate contents and there
is no significant deterioration or otherwise in quality of concrete.

REFERENCES

Bhakra Beas Complex-Dam Safety Activities and Instrumentation.

Beas Sutlej Link Project-Annual Observation Reports.
Beas Sutlej Link Project Criteria for Operations, Maintenance & Observations.