Engineering geological investigations of Üçpınar regulator and hydroelectric power plant project (Konya)

This study investigates the engineering geological problems and their solutions about Üçpınar Regulator and HEPP planned to be constructed on Gevne Creek located at the city of Konya, Hadim vicinity and to supply electricity to the region. At the study area, scan line surveys have been carried out as well as Schmidt hardness test. Rock mass classes were also identified according to RMR system. The units cropped at the study area have discontinuities posse medium persistence, extremely wide aperture, moderate spacing, undulating and planar roughness. These units are also classified as weak to fair rock indicating moderately weathered and very blocky, medium to low strength. Around the units on which transmission line and penstock pipe run across, problematic slopes were identified and limit equilibrium analysis were performed by using Slope/W package software. RocLab program were also used in order to identify shear strength parameters. The analyses reveal that there would be no serious instability problem, but excess pore water pressure may cause failure during wet seasons and therefore suitable support systems have to be planned and applied at the aforementioned regions.