Seepage Analysis Of Satpara Dam (Pakistan)

Abstract

The embankment dams or fill-type dams are constructed of earth and rock-fill material respectively. The earth-fill dams are self-effacing structures which can avert the overturning and sliding because of their self-weight. The causes of failure of earth-fill dams may be seepage failure, hydraulic failure, structural failure, piping through dam body, and due to the earthquake. This paper primarily focused on seepage failure of the dam. The study is carried out on Satpara dam. It is an earthen dam which is situated in Skardu (Pakistan) having a length of 1400 ft and a maximum height of 128 ft, built on ground moraines and alluvial soil. Due to the nature of strata, it has serious seepage problems. One of the embankments of the dam has already been breached due to the same problem. The seepage analyses of the dam are carried out using GeoStudio SEEP/W software and compared the numerical value of electricity production by incorporating the effect of seepage on the production of electricity during the whole year. Some measures are also suggested to counter the seepage problem and increase the production of electricity.