Effective Array of Electrical Survey for Detection of Piping Zone of Embankment

Piping through embankment or foundation of concrete dam has been issued as a main factor of various menaces for safe maintenance of the water facility structure. In this study, a new approach to find the location of the piping point by geoelectrical method is proposed.

Our approach is to install the current line source in the water of upstream and downstream, and then let the current flow from upstream to downstream area. The potential will be measured at downstream to find any electrical anomalies due to piping condition.

Numerical study made it possible to adjust various conditions to configure optimal configuration for successful locating of the piping point. And lab test was successfully performed and the result implied a new way of electrical application for safety assessment of water facility structure for the piping problem.