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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Geotechnical Engineering Investigation <br /> <br />Case 4: Zoned embankment, Reservoir Water EI. 10,270 feet, upper 40 feet (elevation <br />10,250 to 10,290 feet) are fractured rock extending to the upstream face of the <br />embankment, foundation rocks fractured and penneability of the downstream shell <br />material is the same as that of the fractured rock. <br /> <br />Case 5: Homogeneous embankment, Reservoir EI. 10,270 feet. Penneability = 10-2 ft/sec <br /> <br />Seepage Analyses Results <br /> <br />The seepage analyses results for all cases analyzed, zoned and homogeneous embankment, <br />and with different reservoir elevations, indicate that the exit point should theoretically be located <br />at the toe rock buttress of the embankment. The analyses do not account for water inflow that <br />may be entering the embankment laterally from the left abutment. <br /> <br />The initial finite element mesh along with the corresponding flow nets are included in <br />Appendix D. The computer output for the first and final iterations are also included. <br /> <br />Hydro-Triad reported that the entry point for the dye test was about 15 feet upstream of <br />the upstream geomembrane anchor trench, about elevation 10,268 feet. The exit point was about <br />elevation 10,225 feet on the downstream abutment-embankment groin. The finite element <br />analyses indicate that the exit points range from elevation 10,220 to 10,230 feet (refer to nodal <br />points 155 to 170) for the computer model we prepared, material properties we assumed and <br />given reservoir level. These values are thus in general agreement with field observations, <br />considering that iflateral groundwater inflow is occurring from the abutment the phreatic surface <br />and exit points would logically be higher along the embankment's face. It should also be noted <br />that the phreatic surface elevation of the computer model correlates very closely with the <br />piezometer readings, CA-I and CE-2, which correspond to nodal points 35,43 and 51. <br /> <br />Examination of the final finite element meshes and flow nets indicate that the factors of <br />safety against piping at the exit points range between 2 and 3.5 along the downstream face. The <br />lower factors of safety correspond to the higher reservoir pool. It should also be noted that the <br />weight of the downstream rock benn was ignored along the lower seepage areas. <br /> <br />The possibility of soil piping is considered somewhat unlikely because the embankment <br />shell is predominantly composed ofsand and gravel with fines content generally between 2 and 10 <br />percent. In addition, the downstream shell's material composition meets the filter criteria, as set <br /> <br />Continental Dam <br /> <br />Page 16 <br />