Geotechnical properties of soluble rocks from a dam site in iran

Owing to an increasing demand for water in the western provinces of Iran, the inevitability of dam construction on karstic foundations cannot be avoided; recent dams have been built on soluble, karstified, weathered, fractured, faulted, and folded rock foundations. To ensure the permanent stability of these dams, the first task is to investigate the characteristics of the underlying ground. The proposed Kangir dam site is located in western Iran (Elam Province). The geotechnical properties of soluble rocks at this site, as determined from laboratory tests, are the subject of this article. The foundation rocks comprise some limestones (Asamri Formation) and, to a greater extent, strata (Gachsaran Formation) containing marl, gypsum-bearing-marl, and gypsum. The lithomechanical characterization of the rocks included comprehensive engineering geology and rock mechanics studies conducted at the site including surface geology, jointing fabric study, borehole drilling and logging, and field and laboratory geot chnical testing. Laboratory tests on core samples were carried out to delineate the physical and geomechanical properties of the intact rock at the proposed dam site, using ASTM standards and ISRM suggested methods.