2024 – Structural Risk Reduction Measures Based on Grouting High Viscosity Resins: The Spanish Practice Applied Worldwide

Antonio Vaquero Hernández, Manuel G. de Membrillera Ortuño

Today’s world is increasingly interconnected and globalised, yet the dam industry is relatively rigid when it comes to embracing change. This is understandable, especially with infrastructures whose potential failure can lead to catastrophic consequences. For this reason, sometimes we adhere to certain practices because ‘this has always been done this way and it works’ or because details about the innovations developed in other countries are unknown.

Spain is a country with more than 1,200 large dams and a long tradition of dam construction and operation which dates back to Roman times. Water scarcity, especially acute in the south of the country, makes it necessary to maximise water use and limit losses. The average age of these large Spanish dams is close to 60 years, while more than 40% of them have been in service for over 50 years. 70% of Spanish large dams are made of concrete and, therefore, a significant number of them require grouting of the dam body, both to control seepage and for structural reasons, notably to restore the monolithic nature of arch and arch gravity dams.

Spain resorts to highly specialised companies in the dam industry, including grouting works, where an innovative high-pressure grouting methodology has been developed using high viscosity resins. This technology makes it possible to address some repairs that would otherwise be impossible. The technology is backed by more than 30 years of experience, first in Spain and, since 2010, in some of the most important dams around the world. It could also bring added value in Australia. This paper summarises the general context of dams in Spain, details the grouting technology developed in the country and the different types of safety issues that can be addressed. Finally, it includes a review of some relevant works executed and designed by the authors.