See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225696358

Investigation of the Geological and

Geotechnical Characteristics of Daroongar
Dam, Northeast Iran

Article in Geotechnical and Geological Engineering November 2011

DOI: 10.1007/s10706-011-9429-6

CITATIONS READS

2 498

3 authors, including:

Mohammad Ghafoori Gholam Reza Lashkaripour

Ferdowsi University Of Mashhad Ferdowsi University Of Mashhad
63 PUBLICATIONS 89 CITATIONS 59 PUBLICATIONS 165 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, Available from: Mohammad Ghafoori
letting you access and read them immediately. Retrieved on: 27 June 2016
Investigation of the Geological and
Geotechnical Characteristics of
Daroongar Dam, Northeast Iran

M. Ghafoori, G. R. Lashkaripour &

S. Tarigh Azali

Geotechnical and Geological

Engineering
An International Journal

ISSN 0960-3182

Geotech Geol Eng

DOI 10.1007/
s10706-011-9429-6

1 23
Your article is protected by copyright and
all rights are held exclusively by Springer
Science+Business Media B.V.. This e-offprint
is for personal use only and shall not be self-
archived in electronic repositories. If you
wish to self-archive your work, please use the
accepted authors version for posting to your
own website or your institutions repository.
You may further deposit the accepted authors
version on a funders repository at a funders
request, provided it is not made publicly
available until 12 months after publication.

1 23
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng
DOI 10.1007/s10706-011-9429-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
Investigation of the Geological and Geotechnical
Characteristics of Daroongar Dam, Northeast Iran
M. Ghafoori G. R. Lashkaripour
S. Tarigh Azali
Received: 30 June 2008 / Accepted: 4 July 2011
Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011
Abstract This paper discusses the results of the
engineering geological and geotechnical investiga-
tions that have been carried out at the Daroongar dam
site. According to the geomorphology and geological
conditions and economic reason, the dam has been
designed as an earth dam with a clay core. The dam
foundation is composed of a sequence of sandy
limestone and limy marl of the Upper Cretaceous
period. This study is based on field and laboratory
investigations, surface discontinuity surveying,
drilled borehole data and permeability of dam
foundation. The present studies include the evalua-
tion of the dam foundation by water pressure tests.
The water pressure tests indicate the necessity to
provide a grout curtain below the dam founda-
tion.The geology of the Daroongar dam foundation
has a significant influence on the permeability and
groutability characteristics. The permeability of
jointed rock masses is strongly depended on joint
characteristics; degree of jointing, opening, continu-
ity and presence of filling materials. The laboratory
tests included tests for unit weight, porosity, uniaxial,
triaxial, tensile strength and deformation parameters.
The strength and modulus of elasticity of rock masses
were determined using the HoekBrown empirical
strength criterion. The rock mass qualities and
M. Ghafoori (&)
G. R. Lashkaripour
S. Tarigh Azali
Department of Geology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad,
Mashhad, Iran
e-mail: ghafoori@ferdowsi.um.ac.ir
classifications of the dam site is assigned using the
rock mass rating (RMR), the rock quality (Q) and the
geological strength index (GSI) classification systems.
Keywords Dam
Geological
Geotechnical

Rock mass
Classification
Discontinuity

Permeability
1 Introduction
The under construction Daroongar dam with a crest
length of about 470 m, a maximum height above the
river bed level of 40 m, and a total storage capacity
of about 20 million m3 will be built on the Daroongar
river, about 79 km northeast of Quchan city in the
northeast of Iran (Fig. 1). The watershed of Daroon-
gar river in Emamgholi mountains at west of Darreh-
Gaz city is part of Gharaghum main watershed with
an area of 1,005 km2. The Daroongar dam is located
on a sedimentary rock with rugged terrain and
complicated geological properties. The dam and
reservoir sites are located in an active seismic region
of rugged mountainous terrain with steep slopes.
Three types of dam were considered, roller com-
pacted concrete dam, concrete gravity dam and earth
dam. Based on geological conditions, lower costs and
lower construction risks, the earth dam with a clay
core option was found to be the best solution (Fig. 2).
The dam will store water for domestic and irrigation
purposes for developing agricultural land for the
123
 Author's personal copy
Fig. 1 Location map of the Daroongar dam site
Darreh-Gaz area, which is located about 35 km
northeast of dam site.
The bedrock inherently has weakness planes such
as faults, beddings, joints, and fractures, which are
the major factors that affect the engineering proper-
ties of rock foundations such as permeability, shear
strength, and deformation. This study describes an
engineering geological assessment of the dam foun-
dation and focuses on the geotechnical behavior of
the rock masses that affect the stability of dam
abutments and the ability to control seepage that may
occur through the fractured rock masses. Geological
and geomechanical surveys and various laboratory
and in situ tests were carried out to evaluate the
characteristics of the rock masses and intact rocks at
the dam site and reservoir area.
Water pressure test is the most common and
appropriate method in order to determine rock mass
permeability due to the presence of weak planes. The
results of rock mass permeability test are strongly
related to the geometric characteristics and weath-
ering degree of the water paths (Ewert 1997;
Karaguzel and Kilic 2000). The results of the water
pressure tests can be used to delimit the zones of the
dam foundation that show different rock mass quality
(Foyo et al. 2005). At present, it is broadly accepted
123
Geotech Geol Eng
that the water pressure test can induce modifications
in the joints characteristics (Shibata et al. 1981;
Kutzner 1996; Foyo and Sanchez 2002). The rock
mass quality of the test section obtained from water
pressure test completed with the degree of jointing of
the drill core acts as a useful reference for ground
treatment design (Foyo et al. 2005). The underlying
foundation with unknown discontinuities needs to be
improved to raise its engineering properties and
ensure a watertight reservoir. Using cement grouting
to improve bedrock has been quite common (Verfel
1989; Deere1982; Houlsby 1992), and there are
numerous examples of its application to the engi-
neering of dam foundation improvement (Ewert
1985; Weaver 1991; Warner 2004).
Detailed discontinuity surveying was also per-
formed to provide the basic parameters for classifi-
cation of the rock masses. The Bieniawski rock mass
rating (RMR) and Barton (Q) classification system
have been used to provide tools for the designer
during construction. In this study, rock masses of the
left and right banks were classified according to the
RMR method and Geological Strength System (GSI).
In addition the most widespread empirical strength
criterion that proposed by Hoek and Brown (1980)
was used to obtain the rock mass strength parameters.
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng

Fig. 2 The dam under construction, a a profile of the dam that showing construction progress, b a photo of the dam under
construction

2 Site Geology Daroongar dam and its reservoir are located in a

This study focuses on the geomechanical and hyro-
geological problems based on the local geological
model of the dam site and reservoir area. The regional
and local engineering geology have played a major role
in the planning, design, construction and preference of
the dam in Kopet-Dagh basin (Lashkaripour and
Ghafoori 2002).
part of the Kopet-Dogh mountain physiographic
province termed the Kopet-Dogh basin. The Kopet-
Dogh formed as an intercontinental basin in NE Iran
and SW Turkmenistan (Berberian and King 1981;
Alavi et al. 1997), and contains more than 6,000 m of
Mesozoic and Cenozoic marine and fluvial sedimen-
tary rocks (Afshar-Harb 1994). The general stratig-
raphy of the Kopet-Dogh comprises 15 formations

123
 Author's personal copy
Fig. 3 General stratigraphy
of the Kopet-Dogh basin
from mid Jurassic to Oligocene age is shown in
Fig. 3.
The valley walls at the dam site are moderately
steep, with slopes of 4050 in the left abutment and
2535 in the right abutment. Bedrocks exposed near
the dam axis and reservoir consists of a sequence of
Cretaceous to Tertiary aged marine and fluvial
sedimentary rocks (Fig. 4). A generalized geological
map of the dam site and reservoir area, exhibiting
geological units, location of boreholes, dam and
diversion tunnel axis, is presented in Fig. 5. On this
map, the outcrops of the geological bedrock units and
the various types of surficial deposits are shown. The
dam site is situated in an area underlain by the
following stratigraphic formations:
Quaternary deposits (Q)
Plio-Pleistocene Conglomerate (PLQ)
Abderaz formation (Kad)
Atamir formation (Kat)
Quaternary deposits are mainly composed of
alluvium, terrace, slopewash and colluvial materi-
als. The Plio-Pleistocene Conglomerate unit is
123
Geotech Geol Eng
composed of conglomerate with an interlayer of
claystone and red sandstone, dating to the Plio-
cenePleistocene, covers a large area above the
reservoir level. The conglomerate is limy, cemented
and consists of rounded coarse pieces of limestone.
This unit unconformably overlies the oldest forma-
tion. It is exposed on both the right and the left
banks of the dam site with a thickness of about
2025 m. The Abderaz formation of Upper Creta-
ceous age consists of grey shale, limey marl and
white chalky limestone. This formation exposes in
a large part of the right abutment, in the riverbed
and considerable areas of the reservoir of the dam.
Thin layers of the Abderaz formation are usually
overlaid by alluvium at the dam site. The dips and
dip directions of these layers in the right banks and
the reservoir are 8085/180215 (dip/dip direc-
tion). The Atamir formation of early Upper Creta-
ceous age consists of sandy limestone layers. This
formation exposes in a large part of the left
abutment. The dips and dip directions of these
layers in the left and right banks are 8085/
200204 (dip/dip direction).
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng
Fig. 4 A photo of dam site with a view of left bank
3 Site Investigation
The site investigations took place in two stages. The
preliminary feasibility study of the dam site ended in
2002. The second stage began from 2003 and ended
in 2005 and the construction stage began from 2006
(Fig. 2). Twenty five boreholes with total depth of
980 m were drilled on the dam site in conjunction
with packer tests in two stages (Toos Ab Engineering
Company 2005). The depth of these boreholes varied
from 16 to 70 m. Engineering geological investiga-
tions and geotechnical studies of dam site carried out
in detail include discontinuity surveying, core drilled
data and in situ testing. A geotechnical cross section
was constructed based on the exploratory boreholes
drilled along the dam axis during the site investiga-
tion. Figure 6 shows the rock units and fault system
across the dam axis.
3.1 Discontinuity Surveying
The discontinuity data were interpreted statistically
to define the rock-mass conditions of the dam site
and reservoir area. The discontinuity surveying
was undertaken according to the suggested method
of the International Society of Rock Mechanics
(ISRM 1978) at dam site in order to provide basic
parameters for classification of the rock mass and to
determine engineering characteristics of the rock
mass.
A total of 259 structural discontinuities, 98 joints
on the right bank and 161 on the left bank, have been
measured. Once the geological data have been
collected, computer processing of this data can be
of great assistance in plotting the information and in
the interpretation of statistically significant trends.
The discontinuity data were interpreted statistically to
define the rock-mass conditions of the dam site and
reservoir area. The basic orientation data were
analyzed using a computer program based on equal-
area stereographic projection (DIPS 2.2) (Diederichs
and Hoek 1989). The stereographic projection can
give an overall view of the number of dominant
discontinuity sets of the joint systems and bedding
directions within the rock mass. Figure 7a and b
illustrates a plot of contoured pole concentrations and
corresponding great circles. Three representative
joints sets are identified in the three main formations
on the right bank (Fig. 7a): J1:78/291; J2:85/203;
J3:31/296. Three dominant discontinuity sets are also
determined on the left bank (Fig. 7b): J1:83/112;
J2:85/20; J3:33/301.
123
 Author's personal copy
Fig. 5 Engineering
geological map of the dam
site
The quantitative descriptions and statistical distri-
butions of discontinuities of rock units derived from
boreholes and those obtained from the geomechanical
mapping through scan lines at the dam site according
to ISRM (1981) are summarized in Table 1.
3.2 Drilling
At the dam site a total of 25 boreholes with total
depth of 980 m were drilled to assess the condition of
the dam foundations and to obtain rock samples for
laboratory testing. However, only 17 drill holes,
123
Geotech Geol Eng
located within the dam foundation have been studied
in detail (Fig. 5). The details of the drill holes
examined are given in Table 2. The higher rock
quality obtained from boreholes can be related to the
relatively good rock masses and the lower rock
quality can be related entirely to the presence of weak
rocks such as shale and marls. During core drilling,
permeability tests were performed and the perme-
ability of the rock masses is expressed in terms of
Lugeon values. The degree of jointing and the water-
absorbed quantity should be in a direct relation but
the RQD index is not an adequate reference to test
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng
Fig. 6 Geological cross-section of dam axis
section behaviour because it can not evaluate the joint
continuity and presence of filling materials. After
analysing the data obtained from drill holes, the
following results are made:
The drill holes in the river bed area were proved to
have a maximum depth of fluvial fill material of
48.50 m (BH-6). The maximum depth of the Qua-
ternary alluvium in the river valley under the dam
axis is 43.30 m (BH-2).
The drill holes on the right aboutment encountered
Plio-Pleistocene Conglomerate (PLQ), shale, limey
marl and chalky limestone of Abderaz formation
(Kad). The majority of these rock units covered with
colluvium materials ranges from 1 to 15 m thickness.
The drill holes on the left aboutment encountered
sandy limestone layers of Atamir formation (Kat).
This formation exposes in a large part of the left
abutment.
3.3 Selection of the Type of Dam
The type and size of dam constructed depends on the
need for and the amount of water available, the
topography and geology of the site, and the con-
struction materials that are readily obtainable. The
final choice of type of dam is made after consider-
ation of these factors (Emiroglu 2008). As far as dam
construction is concerned, safety must be the primary
concern, this coming before cost. Safety requires that
the foundations and abutments be adequate for the
type of dam selected. Of the various natural factors
that directly influence the design of dams, none is
more important than the geological, not only do they
control the character of the foundation but they also
govern the materials available for construction. The
major questions that need answering include
the depth at which adequate foundations exist, the
strengths of the rock masses involved, the likelihood
of water loss and any special features that have a
bearing on excavation (Bell 2007).
As shown in Fig. 6, the dam site is quite wide
valley. Therefore, this site is more favorable to the
design of an earthfill dam. According to the borehole
results (Table 2), sound bedrock is not reasonably
close to the surface and quaternary alluvium at the
dam site has a thickness of about 43 m (depth of the
alluvium approximately near the dam height) and
overlies the Cretaceous grey shale and limey marl
basement (Kad rock units). The quaternary alluvium
is mostly composed clay soils (thickness of about
30 m) with clayey gravel. Furthermore, the surround-
ing rock mass of the foundation and right abutment is
composed by grey shale and limey marl basement
(Kad rock units) and conglomerate (PLQ rock unit).
123
 Author's personal copy
Fig. 7 Dominant joint sets:
a right bank, b left bank
Because, PLQ rock unit has the low deformation
modulus and rock strength parameters, this site is
unfavorable to the design of a concrete dam.
Therefore, on the basis of topographic, geological
and geotechnical conditions, the earthfill dam option
was found to be the best solution.
3.4 Permeability
During core drilling, the packer permeability tests
were carried out in the Daroongar dam foundation
directly in the vertical borehols at descending
sequence. The main objective of these tests was to
123
Geotech Geol Eng
determine the permeability of the each section of rock
masses of the dam foundation and its abutments,
which allows for the determination of different zones
that require a seperate treatment.
A total of 184 permeability tests or water pressure
tests were carried out during the two stages of studies
(93 tests in the Quaternary alluvium, named constant
and falling-head permeability tests, and 91 tests in the
rock masses, named Lugeon tests). Constant and
falling-head permeability tests were performed in
boreholes to determine the permeability of the allu-
vium. According to the test results, alluvium is
medium permeable (k = 5 9 10-4 cm/s) so it is
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng

Table 1 Quantitative descriptions and statistical distributions of discontinuities of rock units

Range Description Distribution (%)
Right bank Left bank
PLQ Kad Kat Kat

Spacing (cm) \2 Extremely close 100 33 13 22

26 Very close 13 57 61
620 Close 30 8 7
2060 Moderate 23 14 10
Persistence (m) 13 Low 22 4
310 Medium 42 9
1020 High 8 16 6
[20 Very high 100 28 84 81
Aperture (mm) 0.250.5 Partly open
0.52.5 Open 15
2.510 Moderately wide 100 85 100 100
Infilling Gouge 75 6 20
Oxide 17
Calcite 8 60 60 52
Clay and loam 35 20 12
Clean 5 14 16
Roughness (JRC) 46
68
68 8 3
810 5 7 8
1012 87 23 26 7
1214 77 64 85

proposed to cut-off and remove or treatment the
alluvium before construction of dam. Because the dam
foundation consists of a relatively thick deposit of
pervious alluvium (43 m), seepage control is neces-
sary to prevent excessive uplift pressures, instability
of the downstream slope, piping through the founda-
tion, and erosion of material by migration into open
joints in the foundation and abutments. Generally, the
slurry excavation method is suggested for cutoff
trenches to create a barrier to seepage (Fig. 2a).
From the results of each of the water pressure tests,
the pressure-flow relationship was plotted and the
lugeon value was calculated. The results of perme-
ability tests on rock units are shown in Table 2.
Table 2 shows the geotechnical parameters such as
RQD (rock quality designation) and the Lugeon test
results, for both sides of the valley, the right and left
abutments, and riverbed boreholes. As this table
shows, permeability in rock units is measured in the
Lugeon scale (03 Lugeon impervious, 310 Lugeon
low permeability, 1030 Lugeon medium permeabil-
ity, 3060 Lugeon high permeability, and [60
Lugeon very high permeability). The average Lugeon
values of the three main formations are summarized
and presented in Table 3. Table 3 shows that perme-
ability in the rock units of the dam foundation and left
bank are medium to high. The results of these tests
indicated that the permeability of the conglomerate
unit (PLQ) formation and Atamir formation (Kat),
which form the bedrock of the dam site, range
between 0.5 and [100 Lugeons. The high Lugeon
values especially in BH-22 and BH-8A boreholes in
left abutment are because of the shear zone and
highly jointed rock masses. This high permeability is
one of main geological engineering problems of the
Daroongar dam.
The Lugeon values, determined from the Lugeon
tests, indirectly expressed the status of the

123
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng

Table 2 Geotechnical parameters of the right abutment (R), the left abutment (L) and the riverbed (RB) boreholes
Borehole number Borehole depth (m) RQD (%) Permeability (Lugeon)
Total Quaternary deposit Rock Min Max Average Min Max Average

BH-3R 50.20 03.60 46.60 0 100 85.5 0.4 50 12

BH-4R 29.50 03.70 25.80 0 91 44.5 11 [100 [100
BH-15R 33.02 23.85 09.17 0 100 73 \1 4 2
BH-16R 33.10 01.70 31.40 0 84 23.5 5.6 66 29
BH-17R 33.50 14.50 18.70 72 98 92 1 55 4
BH-5L 59.80 59.80 0 100 78 1 [100 33
BH-8AL 16.00 16.00 0 20 5 61 [100 [100
BH-8BL 71.07 71.07 0 100 79 1 7 3
BH-22L 70.15 70.15 0 100 66 69 [100 [100
BH-1RB 50.05 39.95 10.1 0 96 76 10 46 28
BH-2RB 53.90 43.30 10.6 27 100 92 0.4 0.5 0.47
BH-6RB 59.10 48.50 10.6 49 91 62 35 40 38
BH-7RB 50.50 40.30 10.2 55 97 90 50 61 58
BH-18RB 45.00 32.25 12.75 48 100 87 35 48 40
BH-19RB 50.55 18.63 31.92 61 100 87 1 43 18
BH-20RB 48.25 40.27 7.98 50 100 98 35 40 36
BH-21RB 50.55 31.00 19.55 0 93 6 3 46 29

Table 3 Results of the permeability tests geology of the dam foundation has a significant
Location Rock Average Average Average
influence on the permeability and groutability char-
unit minimum maximum (Lugeon) acteristics. The correlation between permeability and
(Lugeon) (Lugeon) depth for the rock units in the dam site shows a
reduction in permeability with increasing depth. In
Right bank PLQ 5.6 [100 79
addition, analysis of drilling data shows that perme-
Kad 0.4 55 10
ability rises in low quality rock masses.
Riverbed Kad 0.4 58 25
After dam site investigation and considering the
Kat 1 46 30
relevant factors such as the permeability of sur-
Left bank Kat 0.5 [100 38
rounding rock units in left abutment (Kat) are
medium to high and furthermore in BH-22 and BH-
8A boreholes (in left abutment) are observed the
discontinuities in the dam foundation. The water shear zone and highly jointed rock masses with high
pressure test indicated the necessity of providing a Lugeon values, therefore a grout curtain 5060 m
grout curtain below the dam foundation. The results deep was proposed at two rows in left bank. As
of water pressure tests and the degree of jointing also shown in Fig. 6, the right bank is composed of the
employed as a first aid to design the water to cement conglomerate PLQ unit (thickness of about
ratio and the injection pressure in the grouting 1015 m) with high Lugeon values and grey shale
process for foundation treatment. The Daroongar and limey marl basement (Kad rock units) with low
dam foundation consists of different rock layers that Lugeon values. Therefore, considering the relevant
have more hidden discontinuities. Shallow bedrock factors such as permeability, discontinuities, and
especially in the left abutment tends to have a high lithological properties of the rock foundation, it was
density of cracks or openings and will be subjected to proposed that a grout curtain 30 m deep at one row
grout leakage and hole collapse It was found that the in right bank was needed.

123
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng

Table 4 Comparison of the rock mass quality defines by SPI and the degree of jointing of the left abutment (L)
Borehole no. Dept. SPI class SPI (l/s*m2) RQD LU Dominant flow
From To

BH-19 19.95 24.95 C 1.2341E-12 79 65.8 T

24.5 29.5 C 3.1524E-13 98 21.8 D
29.65 34.65 C 3.7406E-13 98 20.95 T
34.15 39.15 C 7.038E-13 99 43.45 T
38.75 43.75 A 2.0807E-14 99 0.93 D
43.3 48.3 A 1.1442E-14 98 0.61 D
BH-22 16.55 21.55 C 1.43E-12 74 65 L
25.75 30.75 C 4.29E-13 67 17.5 L
45 50 C 8.74E-13 52 31.1 W
50.05 55 C 4.03E-13 70 18.52 L
55 60 C 3.80E-13 68 17.1 W
60 65 B 9.21E-14 84 4.4 W
65.15 70.15 C 4.75E-13 65 23.7 W
GL-2 8 13 C 8.50E-13 65 60.2 W
13 18 C 3.32E-13 65 14.56 T
18 23 C 9.0037E-13 41.11 T
28.3 33 A 4.51E-15 98 0.21 L
33 38.2 A 1.57E-14 75 0.9 W
43.8 49.2 A 2.16E-14 85 0.92 D
48 53 B 9.29E-14 60 4.3 L
55.6 61.35 A 1.66E-14 75 0.79 W
61.35 65.45 A 8.81E-15 78 0.32 V
T turbulent, L laminar, V void filling, W wash out, D dilation

The contact injections were suggested at two
rows along both sides of the grout curtain. The grout
curtain must be carried out by split spacing, and the
injection at holes with good quality will be carried
out in stages using down-up method, at 5 m sections
and in the holes with poor quality (shear zone in left
bank) will be carried out in stages using up-down
method at 15 m sections. The ratio of cement to
water supposes to be 1:3 at the beginning of the
injection process. In order to build up the stability of
the suspension, 5% bentonite suggested to be added.
3.5 Secondary Permeability Index
To describe and estimate the permeability of jointed
rock, the result of water pressure test should be
transferred to k-value instead of lugeon value. Much
more effort had been done to find correlation between
the result of water pressure test and k-value. This
problem was solved by using Secondary Permeability
Index method (SPI). The Secondary Permeability
Index (SPI) usually, expressed from the conversion of
the take of water pressure test into a permeability
coefficient analogous to porous mass (Foyo et al.
2005). Usually, the grouting of the dam foundation
requires that the rock mass be previously divided in
zones with different ground treatment. The Second-
ary Permeability Index (SPI), based on water flow
trough fissures, allows zoning the dam foundation
regarding different quality classes. The importance of
the SPI method is possibility of distinguishing
difference between dilation and hydraulic fracturing.
The dilation is occurred at elastic manner, but the
hydraulic fracturing is occurred at plastic manner.
The rock mass classification defined by SPI and the
depth of the test has been investigated. As an example
comparison of the rock mass quality defines by SPI
and the degree of jointing for three boreholes in left
aboutment reveal the following aspect (Table 4;
Fig. 8):

123
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng

Fig. 8 Comparison 1.00E-11 100

between degree of jointing SPI 90
CLASS
(RQD) and rock mass RQD
classification obtained from 80
1.00E-12
SPI (SPI with logarithmic 70
scale) CLASS C
60

SPI
1.00E-13 50

RQD
40
CLASS B
30
1.00E-14
20
CLASS A
10
BH-22 BH-19 GL-2
1.00E-15 0

1
5
5

50 5
5
55

65 0
5
5

29 5
34 5

.3

8
13
18

.3
33

.8
48

61 6
5
5
.5
.5
.7

4
.0

6
.1
.9

.
.6

.
.3
.7
24

43

28

43

55
16
25

19

38
DEPTH

Less than 40% of tests (10 test from 22 in Fig. 8)
show an accurate correlation which indicates the
important differences between rock mass quality
definition from SPI and degree of jointing as defined
using RQD index. In BH 19, BH 22 and GL 2 in left
aboutment, the SPI shows a very low rock mass
quality for the surface area at depth of less than 30 m.
The SPI also shows class C and the degree of jointing
is high. Regarding to deep zone (depth [ 30 m), still
more or less C classes in some boreholes exist. In
borehole Number 22 in left aboutment of the
dam(depth [ 30 m) in spite of class B that appear,
the dominant classes are C yet. In BH 19 and Gl-2 an
improvement of the rock mass quality is confirmed.
This interval has been considered long enough to
ensure that the rock mass quality in some parts of the
dam site is not too increasing. It is possible that
discontinuities of high permeable activity may exist.
3.6 Laboratory Studies
Laboratory studies were performed on core speci-
mens obtained from the boreholes, in order to
determine physical and mechanical properties of the
rock units. Density, uniaxial compressive strength
(UCS), deformability and triaxial tests were con-
ducted according to ISRM (1981) standards. The
deformability parameters, Poissons ratio (t) and
modulus of elasticity (E) were obtained from triaxial
test. The test results are shown in Table 5.
The standard method of assessing the strength of a
geomaterial is to recover representative core samples
(length of core in pieces [ 100 mm) and to test them
in the laboratory. However, in the case of the
conglomerate unit (PLQ), it was not always possible
to recover core samples that were large enough to
represent the rock mass.
4 Rock Mass Classifications
Three empirical rock mass classification systems,
namely the rock mass rating (RMR) (Bieniawski
1989), Q-system (Barton et al. 1974) and Geological
Strength Index (GSI) (Hoek 1994; Hoek and Brown
1997) methods have been used to summarise the
geological and geotechnical data, and to provide tools
for the designer during construction. These rock mass

Table 5 Summary of the

Parameters Kad rock unit Kat rock unit
laboratory testing results on
different rock units Min. Max. Average Min. Max. Average
3
Unit weight (KN/m ) 24.1 2.62 25.7 24.9 25.6 25.1
Uniaxial compressive strength, UCS (MPa) 20.2 54.9 33.3 34.4 61.4 46.3
Modulus of elasticity, E (GPa) 5.42 9.43 7.00 10.0 12.9 11.03
Poissons ratio (t) 0.26 0.34 0.3
Internal friction angle (u) 37.4 62.9 54.7 44.8 62.9 53.8
Cohesion (Mpa) 1.3 8.3 7.3 3 8.3 5.6

123
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng

Fig. 9 Rock mass

classification of the dam site
based on GSI system

classification systems were used for the left and right
banks.
4.1 Results of Rock Mass Classification Systems
at the Dam Site
The rock mass qualities of two formations (Kat and
Kad) of the dam site were assessed using three
empirical rock mass classification systems, which is
dependent on the joint characteristics. The results
show, Kat formation on the both the right and left
bank are classified as fair rock mass (RMR = 50), as
well as the Kad unit at right bank and riverbed is
classified as fair rock (RMR = 55).
The Geological Strength Index (GSI) provides a
system for estimating the reduction in rock mass

123
 Author's personal copy
strength for different geological conditions as iden-
tified by field observations (Hoek et al. 1998). This
system was developed by Cai et al. (2004). For this
study, the GSI system was used to classify the rock
masses of both banks. The results are shown in
Fig. 9.
According to the Geological Strength Index the
Kat unit (sandy limestone) is classified as blocky to
very blocky (GSI = 4253). The Kad unit (marly
limestone) is classified as blocky to very blocky
(GSI = 4555). The PLQ unit (conglomerate) is
classified as blocky/disturbed (GSI = 2535)
(Fig. 9).
5 Estimation of Rock Mass Strength Parameters
The rock masses as the foundation of dam are
sedimentary rocks. The rock mass constants, uniaxial
compression strength was calculated by using Hoek
et al. equation (Hoek et al. 2002) and the in situ
deformation modulus of each rock units evaluated by
Hoek and Diederichs equation (Hoek and Diederichs
2006). The results show that the deformation mod-
ulus ranges from 4.33 for Kat at left bank to 9.07 GPa
for Kad at right bank and the uniaxial compressive
strength ranges from 1.5 for Kat formation to
3.7 MPa for Kad formation at dam site.
6 Conclusions
Based on the topography, local geology and ground
conditions of the dam reservoir area, an earth rockfill
dam with a clay core option was found to be the best
solution to control and store water for domestic and
irrigation purposes.
It is necessary to consider that the geological
section of the dam foundation is prepared as a more or
less substantiated geological and geotechnical hypoth-
esis which is refined as data are accumulated. There-
fore, the geological model was proposed for
Daroongar dam site is a dynamic tool that will be
changed as more information will expose during the
various stages of excavation and construction process.
Because the dam foundation consists of a rela-
tively thick deposit of pervious alluvium (43 m),
seepage control is necessary to prevent excessive
uplift pressures, instability of the downstream slope,
123
Geotech Geol Eng
piping through the foundation, and erosion of mate-
rial by migration into open joints in the foundation
and abutments. Generally, the slurry excavation
method is suggested for cutoff trenches to create a
barrier to seepage.
The Daroongar dam foundation consists of
different rock layers that have more hidden discon-
tinuities. Shallow bedrock especially in the left
abutment tends to have a high density of cracks or
openings and will be subjected to grout leakage and
hole collapse. The water pressure test indicated the
necessity of providing a grout curtain below the dam
foundation. The results of water pressure tests and
the degree of jointing also employed as a first aid to
design the water to cement ratio and the injection
pressure in the grouting process for foundation
treatment.
Based on the estimated GSI values and intact rock
strength properties at Daroongar dam site, equivalent
MohrCoulomb strength parameters and elastic mod-
ulus of the jointed rock mass were calculated.
Acknowledgments The authors express their sincere thanks
to the Water Organization of Khorasan Razavi Province and to
the staff of Toos-Ab Engineering Company, Mashhad Office,
for access to the data of the dam.
References
Afshar-Harb A (1994) Geology of the KopetDagh. Geological
Survey of Iran, Tehran
Alavi M, Vaziri H, Seyed-Emami K, Lasemi Y (1997) The
Triassic and associated rocks of the Aghdarband areas in
central and northeastern Iran as remnant of the southern
Turanian active continental margin. Geol Soc Am Bull
109:15631575
Barton NR, Lien R, Lunde J (1974) Engineering classification
of rock masses for the design of tunnel support. Rock
Mech 6:189236
Bell FG (2007) Engineering geology. Butterwotth-Heinemann,
Oxford, UK
Berberian M, King GCP (1981) Towards a Palaeogeography and
tectonic evolution of Iran. Can J Earth Sci 18:210265
Bieniawski ZT (1989) Engineering rock mass classifications.
Wiley, New York
Cai M, Kaiser PK, Uno H, Tasaka Y, Minami M (2004)
Estimation of rock mass deformation modulus and
strength of jointed hard rock masses using the GSI system.
Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 41:319
Deere DU (1982) Cement-bentonite grouting for dams. Ameri-
can Society of Civil Engineers, Geotechnical Engineering
Specialty Conference on Grouting, New Orleans, February
1012, pp 279300
 Author's personal copy
Geotech Geol Eng
Diederichs MS, Hoek E (1989) DIPS 2.2. Advanced version-
computer programme. Rock Engineering Group, Depart-
ment of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto
Emiroglu ME (2008) Influences on selection of the type of
dam. Int J Sci Technol 3(2):173189
Ewert FK (1985) Rock grouting with emphasis on dam sites.
Springer, Berlin
Ewert FK (1997) Permeability, groutability and grouting of
rocks related to dam sites, Part 2. Dam Eng 8(2):123176
Foyo A, Sanchez MA (2002) Permeability tests for rock masses.
A proposal for a new expression for the equivalent Lugeon
unit (ELU). Dam Eng 8(3):199218
Foyo A, Sanchez MA, Tomillo C (2005) A proposal for a
secondary Permeability Index obtained from water pres-
sure tests in dam foundations. Eng Geol 77:6982
Hoek E (1994) Strength of rock and rock masses. ISRM News J
2(2):416
Hoek E, Brown ET (1980) Empirical strength criterion for rock
masses. J Geotech Eng Div Am Soc Civil Eng 106:
10131035
Hoek E, Brown ET (1997) Practical estimates of rock mass
strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr
34(8):11651186
Hoek E, Diederichs MS (2006) Empirical estimation of rock
mass modulus. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43:203215
Hoek E, Marinos P, Benissi M (1998) Applicability of the
Geological Strength Index (GSI) classification for very
weak and sheared rock masses. The case of the Athens
Schist formation. Bull Eng Geol Env 57:151160
Hoek E, Carranza-Torres CT, Corkum B (2002) Hoek-Brown
failure criterion2002 edn. In: Proceedings of North
American rock mechanics society meeting in Toronto in
July 2002
Houlsby AC (1992) Construction and design of cement gro-
uting. A guide to grouting in rock foundations. Wiley,
New York
ISRM (1978) Rock characterization testing and monitoring.
Suggested methods for the quantitative description of
discontinuities in rock masses. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci
Geomech Abstr 15:319368
ISRM (1981) Suggested methods for the quantitative descrip-
tion of discontinuities in rock masses. In: Rock charac-
terization, testing and monitoring. Pergamon, Oxford
Karaguzel R, Kilic R (2000) The effect of the alteration degree
of ophiolitic melange on permeability and grouting. J Eng
Geol 57:112
Kutzner C (1996) Grouting of rock and soil. Balkema,
Netherlands
Lashkaripour GR, Ghafoori M (2002) The engineering geology
of the Tabarak Abad Dam. J Eng Geol 66:233239
Shibata L, Lida R, Matsumoto N (1981) Procedures for the
investigations of permeability and seepage control in soft
rock foundations for dams. In: International symposium
on Weak Rock, Tokyo, vol I, pp 503508
Toos-Ab Engineering Company (2005) Engineering geology
report of Daroongar dam site. Daroongar project. Ministry
of Power, Mashhad in Persian
Verfel J (1989) Rock grouting and diaphragm wall construc-
tion. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Warner J (2004) Practical handbook of grouting; soil, rock, and
structures. Wiley, New Jersey
Weaver K (1991) Dam foundation grouting. American Society
of Civil Engineers, New York
123