Kaveh Saleh

Hydro-Québec · Robotic and Civil

We have investigated seepage in Les Cèdres embankment dam (Valleyfield, Canada) by combining self-potential tomography (SPT), electrical resistance tomography (ERT), thermometry, electromagnetic (EM) conductivity and magnetic measurements. SPT consists of inverting self-potential data to retrieve the source current density distribution associated w...

Visual inspection of rock bolts could give some indications on their condition and performance. However, it might be misleading because most of the rock bolts are embedded in concrete or grouted in rock mass. Nondestructive methods have to be used for a proper diagnosis of the condition of rock bolts. This study deals with the determination and the...

The construction of some civil and mining structures requires the installation of rock bolt to strengthen, consolidate and stabilize the rock-rock, rock-concrete or concrete-concrete interfaces. In this paper, an experimental study was put on to validate non-destructive methods aiming at detecting the state of corrosion in these rock bolts in real...

We have investigated seepage in Les Cèdres embankment dam by combining self-potential tomography (SPT), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), thermometry, EM conductivity and magnetic measurements. SPT consists of inverting self-potential data to retrieve the source current density distribution associated with water flow pathways (streaming curr...

Les Cèdres is an embankment dam that guides water from a channel of the St-Lawrence River to a power plant. The 1917-old dam has been plagued with seepage for many years. Water leakage can be observed at dam toe at a few places. Hydro-Quebec, the dam owner and operator, uses the dam to evaluate non-destructive methods that could be employed to dete...

Abstract This paper presents a case study of the self-potential (S.P.) method applied at the junction of two embankment dams to characterize seepage. Sensitivity of the S.P. method to water runoff can be used to delineate the preferential flow paths. However S.P. can be caused by other sources, therefore only anomalies caused by water flow, describ...

The intake concrete tunnel at Bersimis-1 generating station is coated with a black sticky substance (slime) approximately 5 mm in thickness. Since the tunnel is 12 km long and has an average internal diameter of 9.45 m, the deposit represents a considerable obstacle to the production of electric power. The resulting loss of power generated is estim...

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the development of a simple yet efficient technique allowing for the long-term measurements of strains and stresses in working concrete dams. The proposed technique consists of installing a cylindrical concrete inclusion instrumented with vibrating wire gauges embedded into the concrete. T...

This paper deals with a case study of the self-potential (S.P.) method applied to the detection of seepage occurring at the junction of two embankment dams. We took advantage of the controlled progressive emptying of the upstream reservoir to monitor changes of S.P. together with changes in water level. Seepage flow rate was also monitored. DC resi...

Concrete slabs such as bridge decks and parking garage slabs deteriorate and show signs of distress in the concrete cover when they are exposed to severe environmental conditions. Repair strategy consists of removing the deteriorated concrete and replacing it by a new layer. The success of this repair method is strongly dependent on the quality of...

This paper presents an experimental study on the investigation of concrete properties by guided and surface wave nondestructive testing. Applications were made on two large slabs simulating homogeneity and layering in concrete, respectively. An efficient nonintrusive method was used to evaluate the concrete quality by solving the modal propagation...

The deterioration of the near surface concrete minimises the structural behaviour, capacity, and working lifespan for civil engineering structures and dams. Repair strategy and maintenance require careful examination and determination of the degraded depth. In this aim, dispersive properties of Rayleigh waves are used to detect concrete stratificat...

Massive concrete structures, like dams, are often subjected to aggressive attacks. Weathering actions, temperature variation, chemical attacks, abrasion and other degradation processes, can act simultaneously on the concrete surface and minimise its durability. The maintenance and rehabilitation of the near surface damaged concrete zone, require a...

The knowledge of the initial stress field is not always sufficient to ensure the stability of mining stopes due to the high-stress variations generated by mining. Monitoring of these openings is then necessary and can provide quantitative information (deformations and stress variations) as well as qualitative information (state of stability). An ap...

Soil, rock and oil-well grouting require enormous amounts of cement and are therefore good examples of areas where high volumes of fly ash could replace cement partially to produce low-cost, environmentally friendly and durable grouts. This paper presents the results of the particle size distribution, three rheological properties (flow time, bleedi...

The intake concrete tunnel at Bersimis-1 generating station is coated with a black sticky substance (slime) approximately 5 mm in thickness. Since the tunnel is 12 km long and has an average internal diameter of 9.45 m, the deposit represents a considerable obstacle to the production of electric power. The resulting loss of power generated is estim...

In recent years, non destructive testing of large concrete structures has seen increased use and acceptance in the civil engineering community. Such is the case at the Institute of Research of Hydro-Québec, were a three year research project has been concluded on the ability of detecting the profiles of internal cracks in concrete dams with the use...

—A long term research program to determine the effectiveness of cement grouts injected in concrete dams was initiated by the Institute of Research in Electricity of Hydro-Quebec (IREQ) in 1986. To investigate the effectiveness of the grouts, three nondestructive methods based on seismic wave propagation were recently applied to various concrete sla...

This paper presents the application of a miniature seismic reflection (MSR) system for the determination of the material quality of concrete samples in the laboratory. This system is a complement to the already existing impact echo nondestructive testing technique. Its function is based on the impact echo principle with the additional capability of...

Abstract Many mining and civil engineering structures are showing signs of deterioration due to various factors. In recent years, the heavy cost of repairs of concrete infrastructures has been reduced by using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to pinpoint problem areas. This paper presents the theoretical and practical aspects of the Minia...

This paper presents a mathematical analysis of an inclusion device to carry out long-term strain-stress variation monitoring. The device consists of a solid cylinder grouted into a borehole. The equations were derived in three dimensions and based on the hypothesis of the isotropic linear elasticity of the different materials. Two cells of distinct...

The fracmeter is a straddle inflatable packer with a spacing fitted with radial displacement transducers. When a hydraulic fracture is created it can be shown that the displacement field around the wellbore becomes anisotropic with a maximum value perpendicular to the fracture plane. The multiplication of the number of equations relating the radial...

The paper examines the detection of fracture in concrete by the ground penetration radar technique. The experiments were conducted on a large concrete slab of 3 m length, 3 m width and 4 m high. An inclined crack was induced in the slab at 3.4 m depth by hydraulic fracture. The GPR tests were performed from the top of the slab for different crack w...

Nondestructive testing (NDT) of concrete structures has always been problematic simply because of the complex nature and the heterogeneity of the material. This paper explores one of the most promising NDT methods used in today's civil and mining industry. The technique is based on the study of the reflection system of low frequency (20-50 kHz) bod...