DG/Chefiahttp://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/462026-03-06T10:11:35Z2026-03-06T10:11:35ZConstruction of the Southern Expansion of the Cerro do Lobo Waste FacilityManso, J.Brito, A.Barroso, M. P.Marcelino, J.Galrão, R.Oliveira, M.http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10188202025-11-27T12:21:57Z2025-04-16T00:00:00ZConstruction of the Southern Expansion of the Cerro do Lobo Waste Facility
Manso, J.; Brito, A.; Barroso, M. P.; Marcelino, J.; Galrão, R.; Oliveira, M.
Carlos Pina; Eliane Portela; Laura Caldeira
Neves-Corvo is a copper-zinc mine producing copper, zinc and lead concentrates. The mine is
owned and operated by Lundin Mining's Portuguese subsidiary SOMINCOR. Lundin Mining
acquired Neves-Corvo through the merger with EuroZinc Mining in 2006. It is located in the
Alentejo district of southern Portugal. The ore is processed on site and the tailings are deposited
at the Cerro do Lobo Waste Facility. During the operational phase, the mining waste will be
deposited vertically, in stages, from the current five levels to thirteen levels (with an average slope
of 5 %). In order to accommodate this process, it has been necessary to expand this
infrastructure, including the southern expansion of the tailings dam. The dam will contain waste up
to level 8 (at an elevation of 272 m), with a maximum height of 17 m, and walls with slopes of
1(V):2.5(H) upstream, allowing the use of geosynthetics, and 1(V):2(H) downstream. Apart from of
the left abutment, the dam’s foundation was constructed on the natural terrain. The dam’s lining
system consists of a transition layer, composed of a sandy material, a geosynthetic clay liner and
a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane.
This paper provides a detailed description of the methodology employed in the dam’s
construction, with particular emphasis on the use of soil-rockfill mixtures as the primary building
material. It also outlines the specific techniques employed to ensure the quality and durability of
the construction.
2025-04-16T00:00:00ZExperiments on suffusion of coarse soils from an ageing British damSantos, R. N. C.Benamar, A.http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10188152025-11-27T12:21:33Z2024-01-01T00:00:00ZExperiments on suffusion of coarse soils from an ageing British dam
Santos, R. N. C.; Benamar, A.
This study presents a laboratory investigation on the susceptibility of suffusion in soil samples collected from a very old earth dam. The dam, rebuilt around 1800, is composed of two earth fills and lacks a clay core or filtration components, making it vulnerable to internal erosion. Following an inspection in 2006, concerns were raised about the dam's vulnerability to internal erosion during strong floods. Boreholes and vibro-cores were performed to collect samples, which were then tested for suffusion susceptibility. The study found that four out of six samples were highly susceptible to suffusion erosion, with the erosion process starting at gradients much lower than unity. The opposite was observed for samples with fines content greater than 30% and showing some plasticity. The results were compared to predictions from seven geometric criteria found in the literature, but none of the methods could forecast the behaviour of all tests. The study highlights the need for laboratory tests when there is no agreement between the predictions from available criteria. The findings of this study were used to inform the rehabilitation of the dam, which included installing sand filters designed to capture the smallest particles and relief wells distributed along the entire length and height of the eastern embankment. The study demonstrates the importance of assessing suffusion susceptibility in embankment dam safety control and the need for laboratory tests to validate predictions from geometric criteria.
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZProjeto VET4Hydro – Parceria de formação para a hidroenergiaSantos, R. N. C.Fernandes, J. N.Dias, I. M.http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10188142025-11-27T12:21:29Z2025-01-01T00:00:00ZProjeto VET4Hydro – Parceria de formação para a hidroenergia
Santos, R. N. C.; Fernandes, J. N.; Dias, I. M.
Neste resumo apresenta-se o Projeto Vocational Education and Training Partnership for Hydropower (VET4Hydro), financiado pelo programa ERASMUS+ da União Europeia. Tem como principais objetivos (i) desenvolver as competências de formação e melhorar o processo de ensino-aprendizagem e (ii) capacitar os formadores com os desenvolvimentos mais recentes na área dos aproveitamentos hidráulicos de produção de energia e às necessidades do mercado de trabalho, ajudando-os incorporar novos conteúdos e metodologias de formação.
A equipa de projeto inclui 6 instituições de diferentes países com soluções de produção de energia e respetivos níveis de implementação distintos (Portugal, Noruega, Cabo Verde e Moçambique), cada uma trazendo competências complementares. Entre essas estão 3 centros de investigação e tecnologia (LNEC, LEC e LEM), 1 universidade (UiA), 1 instituto politécnico superior (ISPS) e 1 empresa pública (ICV). O VET4Hydro é estruturado em 6 work packages, sendo os três principais (i) a oferta de um curso geral sobre aproveitamentos hidroelétricos, para formadores; (ii) a instalação de laboratórios de hidráulica e de geotecnia e (iii) a realização de um curso conjunto no Instituto Superior Politécnico do Songo.
A primeira tarefa consiste no “Curso geral de aproveitamentos hidráulicos” cujo conteúdo é apresentado na presente comunicação. Pretende-se capacitar os parceiros do projeto com conhecimentos sobre produção de hidroenergia e novos conteúdos e métodos de formação nesta área.
O curso aborda as principais vertentes dos aproveitamentos hidráulicos, incluindo hidrologia, hidráulica, geotecnia e estruturas. É dado especial destaque à modelação física e numérica dos vários aspetos dos aproveitamentos bem como à componente de ensaios laboratoriais de geotecnia e de monitorização estrutural. São ainda abordados os aspetos relevantes de projeto, construção e exploração dos aproveitamentos bem como da sua segurança e do vale a jusante.
O curso terá uma natureza híbrida, decorrendo presencialmente no LNEC sendo, posteriormente, disponibilizados on-line todos os recursos numa plataforma digital de acesso público, por forma a garantir a ampla disseminação e acessibilidade do conhecimento.
VET4Hydro is a project funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The authors thank the European Union for supporting the VET4Hydro project – Vocational Education and Training Partnership for Hydropower (Erasmus+ project 101128965).
2025-01-01T00:00:00ZAPPLICATION OF A COST-EFFECTIVE IN-PLACE INCLINOMETER SYSTEM ON A ZONED EARTH DAMSantos, R. N. C.Palma,J.Marcelino, J.Marques, N.http://repositorio.lnec.pt:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/10188132025-11-27T12:21:24Z2025-04-01T00:00:00ZAPPLICATION OF A COST-EFFECTIVE IN-PLACE INCLINOMETER SYSTEM ON A ZONED EARTH DAM
Santos, R. N. C.; Palma,J.; Marcelino, J.; Marques, N.
Monitoring in embankment dams is crucial for ensuring structural integrity and preventing potential failures. Traditional inclinometer data collection methods are time-consuming, labour-intensive, and lack support for automatic real-time or remote monitoring. Existing In-Place Inclinometer (IPI) systems are often prohibitively expensive, particularly when multiple sensors are required, limiting their adoption in resource-constrained settings. To address these limitations, a cost-effective IPI prototype using MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) accelerometers was developed alongside a web application for automated data collection and visualization.
This paper focuses on the application of the developed system in the Azibo Dam, a zoned embankment dam in northern Portugal. Inclinometer monitoring data, collected over several decades using traditional methods, were used to evaluate the system's capabilities. A web application is being developed to enable users to visualize both historical and real-time data directly, providing tools for trend analysis and pattern recognition. A key feature is the ability to define "Monitoring Profiles," which spatially visualize data from multiple inclinometers within a cross-section or top-down view, enhancing the understanding of dam behaviour over time. Advanced filtering options, such as interval selection and customizable reference points, further support detailed analysis.
The case study demonstrates the effectiveness of proposed visualizations in streamlining data interpretation and improving decision-making for dam safety management. By offering a user-friendly, open-source, and cost-effective solution, the proposed solution addresses critical monitoring challenges, particularly for dams in financially constrained environments.
2025-04-01T00:00:00Z