Research Information System
Georisk, vol.20, no.1, pp.81-104, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Atatürk Dam on the Euphrates has shown unusually high settlement during reservoir filling. By 1998, crest deformations reached 4.2% above the clay core, far exceeding the typical 1% norm. These were first explained by collapse of saturated basaltic layers, yet later monitoring revealed deeper issues. By 2022, total settlement of the clay core had risen to 6.8% of dam height evidence of abnormal structural behaviour. This study identifies hydraulic fracturing followed by internal erosion of the clay core as the main mechanism. Cracking was triggered by differential settlement, shaped by steep riverbed topography, heterogeneous fill placement, varied foundation treatment, and basalt collapse when saturated. Pore pressure readings in the dam body and foundation, tied to reservoir fluctuations, confirmed leakage paths. Crest settlement rates highlighted localised erosion near the old riverbed. Effluent measurements at the downstream toe further proved leakage through the fill, while sudden increases in downstream settlement tube readings indicated seepage and core erosion.