Dam sealing: flexible application of grouting and experiences gained from completed projects

There was a major increase in the construction of hydropower plants and dams in Europe in the 1950s to 1970s. It was during this time that many of the largest dams in Europe (and worldwide) were constructed. Now, these dams must often resist much higher loads than they were originally designed for. In many cases, changes in reservoir management, or the general use of the reservoir, have increased the loads on these structures while high dynamic loads over decades have left their mark on the original sealing systems. For this reason, many plant operators have decided to refurbish dam structures to increase sustainability and guarantee serviceability adapted to present-day usage. This article provides a brief summary of the flexible applications of state-of-the-art drilling and grouting systems, and shows the different requirements for dam remediation and dam sealing.