Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 17.25.
Burdekin Falls Dam, under construction, showing the 600 m. wide valley floor, formed by
extremely strong, sheet-jointed rock. (Photo courtesy of Sun Water).
Figure 17.26.
Slab of rock which has lifted about 50 mm due to stress relief. Monolith LHZ adjoint to
LH1. (Photo courtesy of Sun Water).
occur in both abutments. Planning stage investigations provided general understanding of
the spacing, depths and persistence of the sheet joints, and showed that some were partly
infilled with clay, usually of alluvial origin. Tests showed the joints to have very high shear
strengths, and that only a few square metres of intact rock per monolith would be required
to meet established criteria for safety against sliding. High stresses were predicted from
