Research Article: Open Access
Internatonal Journal of
Earth Science and Geophysics VIBGYOR
ISSN: 2631-5033
Citaton: Bayowa OG, Ogungbesan GO, Mudashir AW (2019) Geophysical Investgaton of Oba Earth-Fill Dam Embankment using Electrical
Resistvity Method. Int J Earth Sci Geophys 5:027
Accepted: October 22, 2019; Published: October 24, 2019
Copyright: © 2019 Bayowa OG, et al. This is an open-access artcle distributed under the terms of the Creatve
Commons Atributon License, which permits unrestricted use, distributon, and reproducton in any medium,
provided the original author and source are credited.
*Corresponding author: Bayowa OG, Department of Earth Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, P.M.B. 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, Tel: +2348030820291
Bayowa et al. Int J Earth Sci Geophys 2019, 5:027
Geophysical Investgaton of Oba Earth-Fill Dam
Embankment using Electrical Resistvity Method
Bayowa OG
*
, Ogungbesan GO and Mudashir AW
Department of Earth Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
Abstract
Contnual post-constructon checks on dam embankment are inevitable to forestall the possi-
ble catastrophes associated with its structural failure. In view of this, electrical resistvity (ER)
surveys involving vertcal electrical sounding (VES) and dipole-dipole profling were conducted
along the Oba dam embankment as a part of routne deformaton monitoring for any possible
seepage(s) around the dam embankment. Thirty-one vertcal electrical soundings and thirty-fve
dipole-dipole horizontal profling data were carried out on a 350 m long (west-east trending)
traverse established along dam embankment. The iterated VES curves were mainly KH-type
suggestng that Oba dam embankment is underlain by four geoelectric layers; topsoil (caprock),
fll (granite materials), core (plastc-clay/wet clay) and basement bedrock with resistvity val-
ues range of between 53-249 Ωm, 205-1084 Ωm, 15-124 Ωm and 281-1375 Ωm, respectvely.
The dipole-dipole 2-D resistvity structure along the dam embankment showed no evidence of
structural distress/weakness within the underlying sequences. Therefore, by integratng results
obtained from geoelectric secton and 2D resistvity structure based on the layer resistvity/
lithological compositon of the core materials (15-124 Ωm/plastc clay/clay/sandy clay), Oba
earth-fll dam embankment integrity was good to very good indicatng no seepage zone(s).
Keywords
Geophysical, Electrical resistvity, Oba rarth-fll dam, Embankment, Ogbomoso
ous bedrock overlain by a less impervious caprock
[1]. The Oba dam which is the focus of the present
study is an example of an earth-fll dam.
Oba earth-fill dam was constructed in 1964
with a view to supplying the inhabitants of Og-
bomoso and its environs potable water through
a well-designed waterworks plants established
close to the dam. The Oba reservoir (lake) de-
rives its water content from river Oba in the area
(Figure 1). The waterworks with expected life
Introducton
Dams are structures that prevent the fow of
water and get it accumulated in a reservoir, river
or stream, etc. Dams can be constructed from con-
crete, stones, masonry, loosed rock, earth wood,
metal, or a combinaton of these materials. Hence,
gravity, butress and arch dams are possibly built.
Earth-fll dams are examples of gravity dams which
cosist of an impervious core made up of imperme-
able earth materials such as clay overlying impervi-
DOI: 10.35840/2631-5033/1827