Dam Foundations. Geologic considerations. Investigation Methods. Treatment. Monitoring

The foundation of a dam is the most complex part of a water storage facility, moreover, it is also one of the most important components governing the safety of the structure. The main objectives of this Bulletin are to present the state of current practice. The Bulletin is intended as a guide to dam Owners, Designers, and Contractors and is relevant to dams under design as well as those under operation. The subject of dam foundation is very broad, a comprehensive bibliography directs the reader to the relevant literature.

This Bulletin is not a manual with ready-made instructions. Its message is to point out the tools and methods available today in dam foundation engineering and analysis, to make the reader aware of problems and pitfalls, and to emphasize the importance of geology and of a systematic approach to engineering geological investigations.