Karuma Hydropower Project, Uganda: Engineering Geological Analysis and Cost Uncertainty Assessment of Underground Works
Master thesis
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/236169Utgivelsesdato
2013Metadata
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Sammendrag
Karuma Hydropower Project was proposed to stave off prolonged energy shortage in Uganda. The project includes extensive underground works in mostly granitic gneiss bedrock. A first of its kind in the country, the project has suffered persistent funding challenges. A major cost driver for similar projects is uncertainty of engineering geology. In this study, Karuma Hydropower Project?s engineering geology and cost uncertainty arising from it were analysed.From a report of detailed geological investigations for the project; jointing, weakness zones, and distribution and character of rocks were described for each underground component. Thereafter, rock mass quality, rock stresses and their effect on excavation stability, and rock support by Q-method and numerical analysis were evaluated. Possible design improvements and feasibility of using NATM, NMT or TBM tunnelling were also assessed. A sequence for excavation of caverns was proposed as well. Consequently, excavation and rock support costs for the project were estimated; deterministically, and stochastically using Monte Carlo simulation.The study established that the project will be founded in medium quality rock mass (0.1