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The geotechnical behavior of Curuá-Una dam, Pará, was
studied due its importance to the North Region of Brazil.
The power plant, in operation since 1977, is located in the
Amazon forest, next to the city of Santarém. The study was
comprised of the evaluation of current operation conditions
of the dam and prediction of its performance after a
possible rise of 1,5m of the level of the reservoir with
and without simultaneous rise of the dam`s crest. The rise
of the reservoir would increase the power capacity of Curuá-
Una plant, benefiting the entire region. A comprehensive
program of geotechnical tests was carried out on
undisturbed samples of the dam materials. Block samples
were extracted from the upstream and downstream slopes of
the dam. The experimental program included characterization
tests, permeability, consolidation, direct shear and
triaxial tests, with different saturation conditions. The
research also included the analysis of field
instrumentation results. The instrumentation included
several piezometers, installed in the body of the dam and
in the sandy foundation. A surgency of the freatic line was
identified at the downstream slope, suggesting a
malfunctioning of the vertical filter. The analyses
included numerical simulations of different reservoir and
crest levels, with objective to evaluate the deformability
of the earth embankment. In addition, stability studies for
different geometries and loading conditions were also
carried out. Alert levels regarding the dam`s stability were
established.
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