Logging and Tracer Study—An Integral Part of NDT for Seepage Through Hydraulic Structures

Effective and efficient practices towards structural management are necessary in order to get appropriate solution to problems pertaining to the maintenance, rehabilitation and safety of hydraulic structures. Majority of the present hydraulic structures in India are withering due to age and hence pose structural deterioration and distress. Suitable planning, assessment and diagnosis are necessary in order to decipher the cause, so as to implement suitable remedial measures to repair and ensure their safety. Distresses in the body of the dam and canals, viz. fissures, volume expansion, deformation, etc., may lead to structural failure, which can be catastrophic both in terms of property and life. The risk of structural failures can be reduced by regular inspections and monitoring, identifying the deficiencies or flaws and accordingly implementation of a comprehensive rehabilitation measure. In the recent past, the awareness towards dam safety has encouraged the development of numerous techniques, which are capable of identifying the location of seepage through body or foundation of hydraulic structures, hence preventing them from disaster. Here the authors have highlighted the effectiveness of an integrated approach towards deciphering of seepage, through well logging and tracer study in hydraulic structures; and the remedial measures with relevant case studies. Borehole logging and tracer study forms an integral part of non-destructive technique (NDT); hence, they can be extended for delineating the path of seepage through any hydraulic structure(s).