Impulse response function analysis of pore pressure in earthdams

Abstract

Effective control of dam safety requires that the measured pore-pressure data be interpreted in the shortest possible time following the readings. Direct resolution based on partial differential equations are not appropriate. We present a relevant formalism for analysing pore-pressure monitoring data: the Impulse Response Function Analysis (IRFA) method. The model based on approximations for the impulse response of the dam gives the variations in the pore-pressure measurement resulting from changes in the reservoir levels. An expression for the explicit estimation of in situ hydraulic diffusivity is derived. The model were applied to the analysis of monitoring data obtained at a zoned earthdam. Obtained results proved that essential aspects of the observed phenomenon in most cells data can be described in this linear framework, and that they are taking into account.