Rock mass foundation seismic tomography and its contribution for the modelling of Baixo Sabor dam’s structural behaviour

Abstract

Crosshole seismic tomography characterization of Baixo Sabor dam’s rock mass foundation after the first filling of the reservoir is presented. A continuous foundation profile along the dam’s reference line was obtained with P-wave seismic velocity distribution. This zoning was used to adjust the foundation mechanical parameters of dam´s finite element model. The model, developed by LNEC, included a 3D representation of the dam and its rock mass foundation, was used for the analysis and interpretation of dam´s structural behaviour during the first filling of the reservoir and the subsequent operation period.