Exploring the Potential of Ground Penetrating Radar Data-Based Simulation Technique for Assessing the Condition of Stilling Basin of a Dam

The dam floor may lead to erosion due to the continuous impact of water. Stilling basin is used to dissipate the energy from the spillway discharge of a dam. Physical inspection, however, is a time consuming and tedious exercise. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has the capability to serve as a convenient tool for carrying out inspection of stilling basin floor at regular intervals without emptying it and disturbing any operations. This paper presents the process and interpretation of GPR data using the geo-simulation technique for assessing stilling basin’s condition. A Zond 12e GPR with an antenna of 300 MHz frequency was utilized for data collection. Simulated responses of various stilling basin defect scenarios have been generated based on several significant factors. The bathymetric contour map, along with GPR radargrams, is also analyzed for a complete study of stilling basin’s condition, followed by the validation of results. Several eroded zones have been identified that may be repaired. The approach used in this work results in a better understanding of the complex GPR dataset, enabling a detailed understanding of the condition of stilling basin and associated damages to its floor due to the impact of objects in case of a flooding event. The experimental results presented in this paper will also be of great interest to engineering geologists.