Effect of Construction Material on Dam Type Selection of the Büyük Karaçay Dam (Hatay, Turkey)

Abstract

This paper covers the investigation of construction materials and selection of the dam type for the Buyuk Karacay Dam, which was planned to be constructed on Buyuk Karacay River 20 km to the SW of Hatay (Southern Turkey). The purposes of the dam are irrigation, domestic water supply, and producing energy. Auxiliary structures locations have been determined during the study of detailed geological maps of the dam axis and reservoir area. Quality, quantity and hauling distance of natural construction materials were effective to select different dam types. For engineering geological studies exploration boreholes were drilled at the dam site; pressuremeter tests were performed in order to determine bearing capacity and elasticity properties of rocks; pressured water tests were also performed to determine permeability of the dam site. Moreover, physical and mechanical properties of rocks were determined by the laboratory test. In the feasibility stage, the dam type was chosen as the central core rock-fill dam, depending on state of natural construction materials. In design stage dam type was changed as faced symmetrical hardfill dam. Finally, the dam type was revised again during the design stage as concrete face rockfill dam.