Abutment and Foundation Treatment for High Embankment Dams on Rock

The design of treatment of rock abutments and rock foundations has been in a continuous state of developmnent in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a few examples have been presented. While the treatment of these items is of prime importance on high dam projects, quite often the problems are more difficult on lower dams having solutioned limestone, open blocky joints in sandstone partially backfilled with cohesionless materials, and compaction clay-shales. Except for sudden slides, such as occurred at Vaiont, Italy, the control of seepage and thus the prevention of piping, especially along the core-rock interface will be of greatest importance. This applies especially to rockfill dams with a central core where corrective measures will be most difficult to execute.