Influence of deep seated discontinuities on the left slope of Jinping I Hydropower Station and its stability analysis

This paper presents a case history detailing the development of cracks within a rock mass up to 350 m from the steeply incised valley slopes of the Yalong river in South West China, where the Jinping I dam is being constructed. The cracks have opened along previous tectonic structural features such that they penetrate further into the rock mass in the metasandstones and slates than in the marble. The presence of these cracks significantly reduces the stability of the near surface rock mass, requiring major excavation at the dam abutment. Analysis has indicated that the most appropriate way of stabilizing the slopes before the dam is constructed is by grout-infilled, specially constructed galleries which extend 60–80 m from the freshly excavated abutment.