The rehabilitation of the Dikilitaş dam in Niğde

This study has been prepared as an MSc thesis at the Department of Geology in the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Çukurova in the academic year of 2007-2008.The rehabilitation of the Dikilitaş dam 40 km northeast of Niğde is the subject of this study. The dam has not been able to store water due to leakage in its reservoir area. Several studies have been undertaken in order to delineate why the dam has not been able to store water behind it. After these studies, the rehabilitation of the dam by means of clay blanket method in its reservoir area has been decided to be the most suitable method. Suitable materials to use as a clay blanket have been studied by taking samples in different locations both within the reservoir area and the dam vicinity and soil mechanical tests have been performed on these samples. Firstly, index analysis such as Atterberg limits, specific gravity and grain size analysis were performed in order to classify the soil samples. Subsequently, compaction, unconfined compression, consolidation and permeability tests were performed in order to determine the engineering parameters of the samples. The best suitable sample for the rehabilitation has been determined according to the tests results. Finally, the method of compaction and other needs to be done in the rehabilitation have been explained and some suggestions were made.