Rock mass utilization for the foundation surfaces of high arch dams in medium or high geo-stress regions: a review

The complex geological conditions of high arch dam sites could increase the difficulty in the design and construction processes, making the selection of the dam foundation surface a major subject in high dam engineering. This paper discusses some main problems in rock mass utilization for the foundation surface of high arch dams in medium or high geo-stress regions, including the rock mass classification and treatments for poor conditions. Poor conditions include the presence of large-scale discontinuities, asymmetry in the topography or geology and stress relaxation in high geo-stress zones. With respect to these main problems, six Chinese arch dams with heights of more than 200 m are selected to investigate the rock mass utilization. The special rock mass issues encountered by the foundations of the six dams and relevant treatment measures are discussed to describe the rock mass utilization characteristics for the arch dams. The key technical factors, such as excavation, reinforcement and structural optimization, are summarized to provide an effective reference for the rock mass utilization of high arch dam foundation.

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