Open Journal of Geology, 2013, 3, 25-27
doi:10.4236/ojg.2013.32B006 Published Online April 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojg)
Ground Penetrating Radar Survey of Dam Structures of
Kazakhstan on example of Aktobe and Karatomar
Water Storage Basins
Zhumabek Zhantayev, Baurzhan Kurmanov, Nikolai Breusov, Shigayev Dauren, Kirsanov Alexandr
Department of Geophysical and Geodynamic Monitoring, LLP “Institute of Ionosphere”, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Received 2013
ABSTRACT
Ground penetrating radar surveys of technical condition of Karatomar and Aktobe water storage basins on the river
Tobol are shown. In this article we have shown that dams have problems with cavities and identified longitudinal di-
mensions of anomalous zones of decompression.
Keywords: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); Hydraulic Structures; Anomalous Zones; Dam; Decompression Zone;
Areas of High Humidity
1. Introduction
Authors have examined about 30 reservoirs in Kazakh-
stan. Below the reservoir are large dams, which highlight
the most significant anomalous zones. Investigation of
grounds lying at the base of hydraulic structures, includ-
ing the dynamic changes of ground properties during
long-term use, is a timely and very important task.
Changing of the properties of grounds, that lies in the
base of the dam may lead to the settlement and destruc-
tion of hydraulic structure and if these changes are not
taken into account in the design decisions during the
construction, the danger of over-voltage of anomalous
zones springs up, which could lead to shift of the body
and the building elements of the dam. When the value of
stresses and displacements exiting for the limit values of
specified security criteria, the state of hydraulic struc-
tures in general may become an emergency. [1] Analysis
of experience of using of various methods showed that
the GPR method provides to receive a more detailed pic-
ture of the geological structure of the subject area on
continuous sections compared to the traditional meth-
ods.[2]
GPR is widespread and acute in construction and geo-
technical firms of most highly developed countries, such
as Russia, USA, Canada, Sweden, Korea, etc. The
method is based on the difference of rock on dielectric
capacitivity. Emit pulses propagating in the survey envi-
ronment or object are reflected from the boundary, on
which change the electrical properties-electrical conduc-
tivity and dielectric capacitivity. The reflected signal is
received by the receiving antenna, amplified, digitized
and stored. [3]
To get decompactification zones and zones of anoma-
lies in the soil of dam embankment on longitudinal pro-
files on the crest and slopes of dams, along with tradi-
tional methods (seismic and geoelectric survey) used
ground penetrating radar sounding which is a more mod-
ern, high-tech and informative tool of non-destructive
measurements, allows to get results in real time [2].
2. Goals and Objectives
The necessary of sensing caused by prolonged exploita-
tion of water storage basins, which are built of loam and
gravel-pebble material. Filtration flow and changes in
curve of depression of water saturation with time gives
rise to dangerous of overvoltage of anomalous zones,
which could lead to a shift of the body and the elements
of the dam building. [4]
3. Method
In the process of GPR survey of Karatomar and Aktobe
water storage basins the following main stages of sensing
carried out:
- Construction of GPR profiling on the axis of the dam,
where shown a more general picture of structure of the
dam;
- Construction of GPR profiles along the upper side of
the dam, where the most visible filtration flows and de-
compactification zones in the body of the dam. [5]
Karatomar water storage basin was built in 1965. Pro-

Z. ZHANTAYEV ET AL.
26
jected volume of the reservoir is 586.0 million m3.
Channel type of water storage basin. The dam by maxi-
mum height of 18 m and width along the ridge up to 10
meters, is composed of three parts: the precoat to integra-
tion with the right bank by length 1420 m, bulk to inte-
gration with the left bank by length 240 meters and the
central rollway by length 134 meters and consists 7
spans.
Aktobe water storage basin is located to 8 km to south
from Aktobe, in the middle reaches of Ilek River.
Earthen dam is bulk of sandy-gravelly loam soil with
loamy screen and diaphragm of the clay wall. Mark of
the dam crest is 234.20 m, width of the crest is 10 meters.
Fastening of the top escarpment is made of reinforced
concrete slabs. Reservoir fills since 1985. Reservoir area
is 3570 ha, the total water volume is 245 million m3, the
effective water volume is 220 million m3.
In the process of GPR profiling on Karatomar water
storage basin were conducted eight longitudinal profiles
by lenght 200 - 250 meters along the crest and the upper
reach of the dam, by depth of sounding over 10 meters
(Figure 1).
When the GPR profiling Aktobe reservoir held 90 lon-
gitudinal and cross sections along the ridge and the upper
reach of the dam, the probing depth is of about 8 meters
(Figure 2).
4. Conclusions
The main result and the more prominent of them was the
definition of anomalous zones profile No 0003 on Kara-
tomarskomu reservoir (Figure 3).
Figure 1 Location of GPR profiles by Karatomarskomu
reservoir.
Figure 2. Location of GPR profiles of Aktobe reservoir.
Conclusion Geosciences using ground penetrating ra-
dar "OKO-2" AB-400 profile 0003 by Karatomarskomu
reservoir.
The processing and interpretation of GPR profile No
0003 (Figure 3) had a decompression zone and areas of
high humidity in the dam body. On GPR profiles clearly
evident geological layers and boundaries decompression
in points from 160 to 215 meters at a depth of up to 6
meters from the level of the crest of the dam. The prob-
ing depth of 6 meters is achieved by increasing the ac-
cumulation of signals in the longitudinal profile. Fixed
boundary of the zone of distribution, which is redistrib-
uted in the soil stress state, leads to the development of
cracks in the transverse directions of the gap relative to
the longitudinal axis of the dam. The concept of “de-
compression zone” in this terminology means that the
soil in this area is less denser than the surrounding layers.
Cavities (voids) in the base are missing, because they
have a characteristic “radiopicture” - often repeating the
signal due to multipath waves in the cavity, which is the
performance of work were found. It also showed very
high humidity in the area of the dam body at around 115
- 155 meters depth penetration of up to 2 meters, which
can also lead to anomalous zones in the dam body.
From these profiles were selected profile № 0001,
0002, 0003 by Headwater Aktobe reservoirs, which are
most suitable for data analysis, identification of anoma-
lous zones, areas of distribution (Figures 4, 5 and 6)
Figure 3. Longitudinal profile 0003 section of the reservoir
Karatomar.
Figure 4. The longitudinal profile 0001 of the upstream
Aktobe reservoir.

Z. ZHANTAYEV ET AL.
27
Figure 5. Longitudinal profile 0002 of the upstream reser-
voir Aktobe.
Figure 6. The longitudinal profile 0003 of the upstream
reservoir Aktobe.
The processing and interpretation of GPR profile 0001
(Figure 4) were found decompression zone and areas of
high humidity in the dam body. On GPR profiles clearly
evident in the intense colors degree anomaly. These
anomalies include voids under concrete slabs, which are
filled with water, which leads to a gradual decompaction
structure of the dam. Fixed boundary of the zone of dis-
tribution, at which the ground state of stress redistribu-
tion, leading to the development of cavities and fissures
divide transversely to the longitudinal axis of the dam.
Also in the body of the dam showed many moisture,
which can lead to anomalous zones in the dam body.
The processing and interpretation of GPR profile 0002
(Figure 5) were found decompression zone and areas of
high humidity in the dam body. On GPR profiles clearly
evident in the intense colors degree anomaly. Anomalies
include voids under concrete slabs, which are filled with
water, which leads to decompaction of the dam structure.
Also showed the boundary of the zone of distribution, at
which the ground is a redistribution of the stress state,
leading to the development of cavities and cracks gap in
the transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis
of the dam. In the body of the dam is fixed high moisture
content, which can lead to the formation of anomalous
zones in the dam body.
The processing and interpretation of GPR profile 0003
(Figure 6), and found decompression zone damp loca-
tions in the body of the dam. On GPR profiles clearly
evident in the intense colors degree anomaly. Anomalies
include voids under concrete slabs, which are filled with
water, which leads to decompaction of the dam structure.
Fixed boundary of the zone of distribution, at which the
ground state of stress redistribution, leading to the de-
velopment of cavities and fissures divide transversely to
the longitudinal axis of the dam. Also in the body of the
dam revealed a high content of moisture, which can lead
to the formation of abnormal areas in the body of the
dam.
These results support the hypothesis of filtration proc-
esses and leaching sandy loam soil with gravel screen
diaphragm mud wall in the location of the anomalous
zones and suffusion removal of soil from the base of the
dam as a result of the hydrodynamic effects of the cycli-
cal filling and emptying of the reservoir.
Analysis of GPR profiles confirmed the possibility of
using non-destructive methods for subsurface sounding
dams with sufficient reliability of the data and their
quantitative and qualitative interpretation. On the dy-
namics of the process of deformation of rock mass area
of interest, was evidenced by the monitor for a few years.
[6]
REFERENCES
[1] M. A. Kolosov, K. P. Morgunov and G. V. Kogan, “Is-
polzovanie GPR soil testing methods vosnovany lock
chamber,” the Journal of the University of Water Com-
munications, No. 4, 2009, pp. 29-33.
[2] A. Salamov and F. G. Gabibov, “The Study of Landslide
Processes Bail Slope in Baku by Vertical Electrical
Sounding,” Engineering Survey, No. 11, 2010, pp. 36-41.
[3] M. A. Bandurin, “Survey of Irrigation Channels Through
Azov Irrigation System of Non-Destructive Methods,”
Scientific journal KubSAU, Vol. 24, No. 8, 2006. pp.
67-73.
[4] R. M. Narayanan and J. W. Jakub, “Railroad Track
Modulus Estimation Using Ground Penetrating Radar
(GPR),” Railway Engineering, Proceedings of 5th Inter-
national Conference, London, 4-6 July 2002, Engineering
Technics Press, UK, CD-Rom.
[5] T. R. Sussmann, “Application of Ground Penetrating
Radar to Railway Track Substructure Maintenance Man-
agement,” Doctoral Dissertation, University of Massa-
chusetts Amherst, 1999.
[6] G. Gallagher, Q. Leiper, M. Clark and M. Forde, “Ballast
Evaluation Using Ground Penetrating Radar,” Railway
Gazette International, Feb, 2000, pp. 101-102.