An Overview of carbonate complex characteristics on dam sites along The Neretva River

An extensive inventory of engineering rock properties presents an essential feature for characterization of the site which is of vital importance for engineering activities. Geotechnical modelling is a highly sophisticated procedure that considers number of influential factors on rock mass conditions and properties which are of particular interest in design of large, capital buildings. In specific geological environments, such as karst, it is practically impossible to obtain specific design parameters without multidisciplinary approach that involves experts in various fields (engineers, hydrologists, geologists, speleologist) coupled with the application of available technologies and methods to survey the site and foreseen possible risks for the project.

Carbonate complexes are present in the maritime and central belt of the Dinaric Alps through which Neretva River flows. In river’s central basin, Salakovac and Grabovica hydroelectric gravity dams were constructed, the case study sites analysed in this paper. In this area, numerous field and laboratory tests of mechanical and dynamic properties had been carried out. The current work is a continuation of previous studies conducted by Selimoviæ (2004) and further deepened by Špago (2010) and related publications and aims to provide an overview of the practice and methods, highlight common issues and risks of designing and building in karst and to draw the lines among a spectra of rock characterization parameters used to describe carbonate complexes in Neretva River area.

Validated regression models that examine the correlation between rock properties were used to create clusters of rock mass quality and the corresponding values for static and dynamic parameters to enable faster yet sufficiently accurate input data for geotechnical modelling process for initial project stages. With each construction project in the surrounding, given dataset should be supplemented with newly obtained data that would improve the accuracy of the model and open an opportunity for development of new model types to make geotechnical analysis more reliable while deepening the understanding on local conditions for designing and building in the karst areas of Neretva.

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