The Importance of Grouting and Its Impact on the FERC Dam Safety Program-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The presentation explains how grouting supports the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) mission to protect life, property, and the environment at hydropower dams. FERC’s Division of Dam Safety and Inspections reviews designs, inspects construction and operations, and oversees dam safety programs, including independent inspections and risk assessments under 18 CFR Part 12.<br /><br />Part 12D comprehensive assessments use Potential Failure Mode Analyses and Level 2 risk assessments to identify hazards, information gaps, additional investigations, and possible risk-reduction measures. Common dam safety concerns include seepage, internal erosion, erodible rock, karst foundations, slope instability, seismic liquefaction, and structural instability.<br /><br />Grouting is used both to remediate problems—such as seepage, voids, piping, and instability—and to treat foundations during new construction. Methods include permeation, compaction, cavity filling, jet grouting, tunnel grouting, and contact grouting. However, drilling and grouting can themselves create serious risks, including damage to dam cores or structures, hydrofracturing, destabilized rock, altered seepage paths, and contamination of drains or filters.<br /><br />FERC’s drilling guidance calls for a detailed Drilling Program Plan covering project purpose, existing information, methods, testing, instrumentation, monitoring, emergency procedures, and risk evaluation. The presentation illustrates these issues through projects involving seepage remediation, karst foundations, tunnel grouting, compensation grouting, and void filling. Long-running programs such as the work at Logan Martin Dam demonstrate the evolving, site-specific nature of grouting.

Keywords

grouting

FERC

dam safety

hydropower dams

seepage remediation

Potential Failure Mode Analysis

risk assessment

karst foundations

drilling program plan

foundation treatment