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ABOUT US

Ueblacker Associates is a consulting engineering firm in Lakewood, Colorado. We have been serving clients around the world since 1969. During the past 35 years the firm has been professional advisor and consultant to various clients amongst government agencies and private industry on all aspects of geological engineering. Project locales range from across the United States to abroad.

Ueblacker Associates can demonstrate continued involvement in major engineering projects. We specialize in geotechnical engineering, rock engineering, and natural hazard assessment and mitigation. We provide geological and geotechnical investigation services, design services and construction consultation for dams, tunnels, highways, and mountain resort development projects. Project locales span from State Highway 82, Snowmass Canyon, Colorado to the Kali Gandaki "A" Hydroelectric Power Project, Nepal and Salcca Hydroelectric Power Project, Peru.

In recent years Ueblacker Associates has engaged in design-build projects of a specialized nature. These assignments included Vail-Beaver Creek rock fall, avalanche and debris flow mitigation projects - first of its kind in the United States, avalanche hazard analysis and protection of outlet facilities for Homestake Dam, Eagle County, CO. Other projects recently completed by Ueblacker Associates include wall design projects with earth anchor and soil nailing applications for segments of I-10, Phoenix, AZ, I-70, Glenwood Canyon, CO and transportation projects in California, as well as feasibility, design, and cost studies for two 100-meter high Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity dams in Germany and Peru and the proposed 575-ft -high Union Park Dam (RCC gravity dam) in Gunnison County, Colorado.

Ueblacker Associates takes pride in their work and keeps abreast of the latest developments in their fields both here and abroad. The firm's services may be engaged independently or in conjunction with other firms. Either way Ueblacker Associates is committed to give their clients their best.

CAPABILITIES

§ Feasibility Studies, Design and Construction Consultation for Water Resources Development and Hydroelectric Power Projects

§ Civil and Structural Engineering § Geotechnical Engineering § Earthquakes and Ground Motions § Soil Dynamics and Liquefaction § Geological and Geotechnical Investigations § Hydrology and Hydraulics § Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering § Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Technology

§ Stability Evaluation and Design of Concrete Dams

§ Stability Evaluation and Design of Embankment Dams

§ Dam Foundation Design

§ Drilling and Grouting § Reservoir Slope Stability Analysis § Underground Cavern and Tunnel Design § Pressure Tunnel Design § Highway Planning and Engineering § Avalanche Hazard Analysis and Mitigation § Rockfall Hazard Analysis and Mitigation

§ Slope Stability Analysis and Landslide Mitigation

§ Tiebacks and Retaining Walls § Bridges and Protective Structures § Soil Nailing § Rock Anchors § Construction/Project Cost Estimates § Construction Management


EXPERTISE -- HORST UEBLACKER, P. E.

0ver 30 years of experience in engineering geology and applied rock mechanics related to design and construction of hydroelectric, water resources, transportation, and other large engineering projects. This includes all phases of project development from feasibility level investigations and design through construction.

Background includes exploration, design and construction with responsibility to coordinate and perform field investigations including detailed geologic mapping, bore hole logging, testing, monitoring, hydrological interpretation, report preparation, design and directing installation of ground support systems.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

Registered Professional Engineer: Colorado (No.12947) California (Civil, No. 35995C, Geotechnical, No. 000845)

EDUCATION

BS/Electrical Engineering, Bundesgewerbeschule Steyr, Austria, 1960

Postgraduate studies:

Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Leopold Mueller, Internationale Versuchsanstalt fuer Fels - INTERFELS, Salzburg, Austria, 1960-1963 and COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES, Golden, Colorado, USA, 1965-1970

Advanced Studies in Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics:

Continuing Education Courses in Rock Mechanics, Rock Engineering and Geological Engineering, University of Colorado, University of California, and MIT

Independent Studies: Engineering Geology, Applied Rock Mechanics, Dam Engineering, Large Cavern Design, Tunneling (NATM) and Geotechnical Engineering

OTHER TRAINING

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - Geological Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams

COUNTRIES OF WORK

Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Philippines, Greece, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, United States

LANGUAGES

Fluent German and English

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSSIONAL SOCIETIES

United States Society on Dams USSD

American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE

International Society for Rock Mechanics

American Rock Mechanics Association ARMA


EXPERIENCE

1969 to present: Ueblacker Associates, Consulting Engineers and Geologists, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A. Position Held: Consulting Civil and Geotechnical Engineer for hydroelectric, water resources, and other large engineering projects.

Duties: Project development and project management. Reconnaissance, feasibility, design level, and construction stage geologic and geotechnical investigations for dams, reservoirs, tunnels, highways and other large engineering projects. Natural hazards analysis and mitigation (landslides, rock fall, debris flows, avalanches). Design of protective structures. Seismotectonic studies and determination of earthquake loading parameters. Stability evaluation and design of dams, surface and underground excavations, tunnels, slopes, embankments, foundations, and retaining walls, including rock support, earth anchor and soil nailing applications. Roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam and pressure tunnel design. Instrumentation and testing. Feasibility and cost studies. Supervision of construction.

Consulting Engineering Geologist for heavy construction firms, conducting pre-bid geologic investigations for large underground construction projects, evaluating ground conditions, excavation methods, stability and support requirements, ground water control, and providing consultation during construction.

1998: Morrison Knudsen International, Inc., Kali Gandaki "A" Hydroelectric Power Project, Nepal; Position Held: Chief Geologist/Geotechnical Engineer/Principal Design Engineer

Description of Duties: Responsible for completing the detailed geologic and geotechnical investigations for this project during the const ruction design and project implementation phase including the stability evaluation, final design, instrumentation, and construction supervision of all major excavations (desander facility, powerhouse, dam sites, surge shaft, and pressure tunnels).

1967 to 1969: Colorado Division of Highways, Eisenhower Tunnel First Bore, USA; Position Held: Rock Mechanics Engineer

Description of Duties: Responsible for training and supervising personnel assigned to rock mechanics instrumentation and testing program. Provided stability and structural analyses for various tunnel designs; evaluated contractor proposals for alternate tunnel designs; and developed and implemented numerous remedial support measures during tunnel construction.

1964 to 1967: Terrametrics, Inc., Golden, Colorado, USA; Position Held: Chief Engineer/Vice President

Description of Duties: The development, testing, and application of various types of instrumentation designed for monitoring the stability of tunnels, slopes, underground mine openings, power houses and dams. Foundation investigations for Pyramid Dam (CA), Muddy Run Dam (PA) and instrumentation of Cabin Creek Pumped Storage Project (CO), Shelbyville Dam (IL), Stockton Dam (MO), and Green Peter Dam (OR), all in the USA.

1960 to 1964: Eastman International and Interfels, Germany/Austria; Position Held: Rock Mechanics Instrumentation Engineer

Description of Duties: Responsible for the development, testing, and application of various instruments designed for monitoring displacements, stresses, and deformations in rock. Instrumentation of Gepatch Dam (Austria), Vajont Dam (Italy), and Kurobe Dam (Japan).


1954 to 1960: Salzach Kohlenbergbau, Austria; Position Held: Mining Engineer Trainee

Description of Duties: Responsible for the layout, design, and construction of underground rooms for installation of electric transformers and coal crushers; testing and performance of various types of supports and coal cutting machines used in longwall mining of a three to five meter thick bituminous coal seam; and the installation and maintenance of the conveyor, ventilation, and drainage systems.

PUBLICATIONS

Ueblacker, H., 1967. Lateral Deformation Indicator, methods and devices for the measurement of borehole deflection and rock movement normal to the axis of a drill hole: U.S. Patent Office, Washington, D.C. (U.S. Patent #3,323,216)

Ueblacker, H., 1967. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Messen von Gebirgsbewegungen: Oesterreichisches Patent Amt, Vienna, Austria (Austrian Patent #255146)

Ueblacker, H., 1968. Procede et Dispositif de Mesure de Mouvements Orogeniques se Produisant Transversalement a un Trou de Forage: Republique Francaise Ministere de L'Industrie Service de la Propriete Industrielle, Paris, France (French Patent #1,518,714, E21b)

Ueblacker, H., 1968. Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Messen von Quer Zu Einem Bohrloch Verlaufenden Gebirgsbewegungen: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Eidgenoessisches Amt fuer Geistiges Eigentum, Zuerich, Switzerland (Swiss Patent #451 858)

Ueblacker, H., 1973. 'NTERACT', A Comp uter Program for Conducting Structural Analysis of Tunnel Support and Lining Systems: Tunnels and Tunnelling, January/February 1973, 8 Buckingham Street, London WC2, 4 p., 7 ref.

Ueblacker, H., 1983. Role of the Geotechnical Consultant in Dam Site Investigations, Bull. Assoc. Eng. Geol., Vol. XX, No. 1, February 1983, pp. 100-103.

Ueblacker, H., 1989. Prestressing of Pressure Tunnel Liners using the Austrian (TIWAG) Gap Grouting Method: Technology Update Lecture, November 28, 1989 for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Ueblacker, H., 1990. Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design, Hanging Lake and Reverse Curve Tunnels, Glenwood, Canyon, Colorado: Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Unique Underground Structures, Denver, Colorado U.S.A., June 12-15, 1990, 17 pages, 3 references. Available from Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado.

Ueblacker, H., 1993. Proposed avalanche control alternatives, Stanley Avalanche, Berthoud Pass, Colorado. (updated and expanded from 1992): Proceedings, International Conference on Transportation Facilities Through Difficult Terrain, August 10-13, 1993, Aspen, Colorado, U.S.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 475-486.

Ueblacker, H., in preparation Geotechnical Challenges In Constructing The Kali Gandaki Hydroelectric Power Project (HEPP), Nepal.

Ueblacker, H., 2006. Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design of Union Park Dam: Proceedings 26th USSD Annual Meeting and Conference, May 1-5, 2006, San Antonio, Texas, 32 pages, 29 references.


SELECTED PROJECTS

Rajamandala Hydroelectric Project; Indonesia.

Tasks Performed: Consulting Civil and Geotechnical Engineer responsible for providing technical assistance with the development of the main components of this 56 MW hydroelectric power facility. He was responsible for performing field engineering and geologic studies for the development of the design parameters; performed design reviews and cost studies for the dam, tunnels, and powerhouse; and conducted a seismotectonic study of the region to assess earthquake loading parameters. Additionally, he prepared the conceptual designs for a 35-meter-high and 300-meter-long roller compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam.

Duration: 1995 (12 months)

Description: The project consisted of the design and construction of a 56 MW hydroelectric power facility located on the Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia.

Reservoir Sites; Eagle County, Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for locating suitable reservoir sites for water storage and assessing the geologic feasibility of const ructing a large dam. He conducted geologic field studies to locate and investigate four potential reservoir sites and prepared conceptual designs and construction cost estimates for a 70-meter-high and 415-meter-long RCC dam.

Duration: 1995-1996 (6 months)

Description: This project is located on the Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It is part of an ongoing study to develop the water resources of the Eagle River Basin for both in-basin use and transmountain water diversion to communities located on the Eastern Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Sand Bar Hydroelectric Project; Tuolumne County, California, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for conducting a detailed pre-construction evaluation for a 5.6-kilometer-long, 4.0-meter I.D. pressure tunnel. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine the feasibility of excavating the tunnel using a TBM and leaving a major portion unlined. He performed a detailed evaluation of all available geological and geotechnical information including boring logs and rock testing data. Additionally, he conducted site visits to inspect core borings and the tunnel alignment.


Description: Located between two existing hydroelectric projects, Sand Bar is a diversion development situated on the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River in the rugged terrain of the western Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The Sand Bar Project's major features include a reinforced concrete intake structure; a 5.6 kilometer, 4.0 meter-diameter hard rock tunnel; a reinforced concrete powerhouse enclosing a single, vertical Francis turbine generator rated at 12.6 MW; and four kilometers of 115 kV, woodpole transmission line.


Ilarion Hydroelectric Project; Greece.

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for evaluating the geological conditions and rock support requirements for this project. He made recommendations for excavating and supporting the diversion tunnel using the NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method).


Description: This project consists of a concrete-lined diversion and spillway tunnel, which is approximately 762-meters-long and has a 12-meter I.D. circular cross-section. Due to the poor quality of the rock, which for the most part consisted of fractured limestone and phyllite alternating with limestone, he recommended to pretreat the ground of all four rock classes with spilling reinforcement.

Veytaux Underground Powerhouse; Switzerland

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for providing an analysis of the geologic conditions for the development and installation of the rock mechanics instrumentation used to monitor the stability of the cavern and performance of the support system.


Description: The Veytaux underground machine hall is a pumping and generating station, which is part of the Hongrin-Lehman Hydroelectric Development. The cavern is 135.5-meters-long, 30.5-meters-wide and 26.85-meters-high, and is located in marly limestone and limestone schist that is considerably fractured. The Veytaux cavern is the first large underground excavation which was constructed in accordance with the principles of the NATM by selecting pre-stressed rock anchors and pneumatically applied concrete as a support system. Tendons of 170 tons and 125 tons were used. The whole excavation, a total of 78,000-cubic meters, was completed in only 17 months.

Eisenhower Tunnel First Bore; Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Rock mechanics engineer responsible for performing design reviews, geologic studies, stability and structural calculations, preparing designs and supervising instrumentation and construction. He developed proposals for the application of the NATM. The NATM was given serious consideration in excavating and supporting the tunnel through the Loveland Fault Zone.


Description: Formerly known as the Straight Creek Vehicular Tunnel, the Eisenhower Tunnel is approximately 2,400-meters-long and measures 20 meters in diameter. It is located on I-70 approximately 104 kilometers west of Denver in the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The Eisenhower Tunnel is unique by the standards of most tunnels in its size and in the variety of rock classes. The tunnel was beset by many difficulties during its construction and became an underground laboratory in which many of the existing theoretical and empirical methods of rock pressure analysis have been applied to determine support requirements.


Hanging Lake and Reverse Curve Tunnels, I-70 Glenwood Canyon, Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for conducting the feasibility study and preliminary design of the Hanging Lake Twin Tunnels and the Single Bore Reverse Curve Tunnel of the final segment of Interstate Highway 70 in Glenwood Canyon, CO. The work consisted of detailed surface geological mapping of several proposed alignments, including preparation of geological maps and cross-sections, fracture mapping and rock mass characterization, rock testing, determination of support requirements, and the development of preliminary designs and construction cost estimates for all tunnels. Preparation of comprehensive report.

In his recent publication “BUILDING I-70”, Dick Prosence, P. E., former District Engineer of CDOT (2003) writes: “Construction activities from 1981 until the dedication of the completed segment on October 8, 1992, could be the subject of an additional book. Incredibly difficult construction problems were faced and solved. Hanging Lake and Reverse Curve Tunnels were completed almost routinely due in large part to intensive geological investigation and analysis completed by Horst Ueblacker and supplemented later by Woodward Clyde."

The detailed geological investigations, rock mechanics studies, and cost analyses performed during the preliminary design phase of this project have greatly reduced the risks of encountering changed conditions during construction of the tunnels which are frequently the cause of delays and cost overruns on the contracts, and litigation. The tunnels were completed ahead of schedule and below budget for a total cost of $75 million.


Description: The Hanging Lake Tunnels (maximum length 1,115 meters), located approximately 80 kilometers west of Vail, Colorado, constructed between 1989 and 1991, represent the final link of Interstate Highway 70 completed. These four tunnels, along with the 191 meter-long Reverse Curve Tunnel (all located in Glenwood Canyon), are owned and operated by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). These tunnels were the first federally funded highway tunnels to implement the reinforced rock arch concept of the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) for primary support design (see Ueblacker, Horst, “Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design, Hanging Lake and Reverse Curve Tunnels, Glenwood Canyon, Colorado”, Proceedings: International Symposium on Unique Underground Structures, Denver, Colorado, USA, June 12-15, 1990, pp 30-1 to 30-20).

Pueblo Dam; Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Evaluation of proposed dam safety modifications for enlarging the reservoir to allow for additional storage of 20,000, 30,000, and 60,000 acre-feet. Stress analysis and stability evaluation of the 145 feet-high concrete overflow buttress and foundation, and recommendations for treatment.

Duration: 2000 - 2001 (6 months)

Magat Dam; Philippines

Tasks Performed: Special consultant retained to conduct detailed geologic field investigations to evaluate the stability of the spillway and tunnel portal excavations. He was also responsible for the design of the diversion tunnels using the NATM, and directing and supervising the work of the native field geologists and professional engineers assisting with the determination of design parameters.



Description: Magat Dam is the largest earth/rock fill dam constructed in the Philippines. The dam is 100-meters-high and has a crest length of over 4,000-meters, and a fill volume of 13-million cubic meters. The river diversion scheme includes two 800-meter-long, 12-meter finished diameter, concrete-lined diversion tunnels. The spillway has a crest length of 170 meters and a chute that is 500-meters-long. Both the diversion tunnels and spillway are designed to pass peak discharges of 30,000-cubic meters per second. The dam is the central feature of the Magat River Multipurpose Project located in Northern Luzon, about 350 kilometers north-east of Manila. The dam and reservoir ensure a year-round supply of water to irrigate 240,000 acres of farmland, and with two crops of rice per year, production is expected to ultimately reach an annual yield of approximately 600,000 tons of rice.

Saudi Strategic Storage Project; Saudi Arabia

Tasks Performed: Geotechnical advisor responsible for reviewing the design and proposed construction of large underground oil storage caverns. His responsibilities included the evaluation of the stability and support measures for the various proposed storage cavern-tank designs and the development of the requirements for groundwater monitoring, drainage product collection, and the prevention of contaminant migration.


Description: The project consisted of the design and construction of several large underground oil storage facilities located in Saudi Arabia. Variable ground conditions and environmental concerns required detailed geological and geotechnical site investigations to be performed prior and during design and construction of the caverns.

Coffintop Project; Boulder County, Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for preparing the engineering geologic feasibility study for a large dam and storage reservoir. He directed and supervised the work of four professional geologists. The field investigations consisted of aerial photography interpretation followed by detailed geologic field mapping of the dam site and reservoir area, including geophysical surveys, core drilling, and testing of the dam foundation. The foundation was found suitable for supporting a large conventional or roller-compacted concrete (RCC) gravity dam.


Description: The Coffin-top Dam site is located on the South St. Vrain Creek approximately 1.6 kilometers southwest of the town of Lyons, Colorado. The proposed project is part of an ongoing study to develop the water and power resources of the St. Vrain Basin.

Central Colorado Project (formerly Union Park Project); Gunnison County, Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Consulting geologist responsible for conducting a reconnaissance level geotechnical investigation for the 61-kilometer-long tunnel-pipeline route and dam- reservoir site. He conducted geological field investigations and prepared the conceptual designs and the construction cost estimates for the tunnels and a proposed 144-meter-high and 585-meter-long RCC dam.



Description: The Central Colorado Project (CCP) formerly known as the Union Park Project is a proposed water supply and hydroelectric pumped storage project (http://www.ueblacker.us). It is located on the West Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains above Taylor Park Reservoir approximately 50 kilometers northeast of the town of Gunnison. The project facilities include a dam, reservoir, tunnels, and pipelines that deliver water to communities located on the East and West Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The project also includes a pumping/power generation plant, which is housed in an underground cavern.

Mount Olympus Tunnel; San Diego County, California, USA

Tasks Performed: Geotechnical consultant responsible for providing geological, geotechnical, and tunnel design services. His duties included the development and implementation of the subsurface exploration program to determine the design parameters and monitor the performance of this high-head pressure tunnel. He conducted geological and hydrologic studies; developed alternative tunnel alignments to minimize the potential of hydrofracturing and optimizing lining design; prepared detailed tunnel lining designs and cost studies which showed that approximately 6 kilometers of steel liner could be replaced by a more economical, unreinforced, prestressed concrete liner.


Description: The Mount Olympus Tunnel is a high-head pressure tunnel which is to be constructed as part of the San Diego Pipeline No. 6 Project, a 3-meter-diameter water conveyance system. The project is located near the city of San Marcos in northern San Diego County. The tunnel portion of the conveyance system is approximately 10-kilometers-long.

Homestake II Project; Eagle County, Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for preparing feasibility and cost studies for 17 kilometers of water supply tunnels. He directed and supervised the work of 15 professional geologists. The field work was carried out at a high altitude between 4,000 and 4,500 meters under extreme weather conditions in one of Colorado's most rugged mountain ranges. He performed detailed geological field investigations to determine support and lining requirements for the tunnels. The geological investigations consisted of aerial photography interpretation followed by onsite mapping of faults and shear zones, and detailed fracture mapping. All geological data from surface mapping was statistically evaluated to predict tunneling conditions. This was performed by making use of various rock classification systems.


Description: The Homestake II Project is located on the Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the rugged Mt. Holy Cross Wilderness. It was part of an ongoing study to develop the water resources of the Eagle River Basin for both in-basin use and transmountain water diversion to communities located on the Eastern Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.


Kali Gandaki "A" Hydroelectric Power Project, Nepal

Tasks Performed: Chief Geologist/Geotechnical and Principal Design Engineer with MKI responsible for completing the detailed geologic and geotechnical investigations for this project during the project implementation phase including stability evaluation, final design, instrumentation, and construction supervision of all major excavations (desander facility, dam sites, powerhouse, surge shaft, and pressure tunnels). He supervised and directed the work of a team of native professional geologists, civil and structural engineers, surveying and drafting personnel, and a private consultant.


Description: The project, located on the Kali Gandaki River in Nepal approximately 180 kilometers west of Kathmandu, is a 144 MW (megawatt), run-of-river hydroelectric plant with a daily pondage capacity of 3.1 million cubic meters. The main features of the project are a 44-meter-high concrete gravity diversion dam, desander, power tunnel, and surface powerhouse. The Government of Nepal plans to have the project on line by the third quarter of the year 2000. The basis of the project is to short-circuit a loop of approximately 45 kilometers in the Kali Gandaki River by the power tunnel, about 6 kilometers in length, thus developing a gross head of about 124 meters. The main objective of the project is to meet the demand for electric power in Nepal at least cost in an environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable manner. With its installed capacity of 144 MW, the project will generate 842 GWh (gigawatt-hours) of renewable energy annually using the flow of the Kali Gandaki River.

The project includes an 18-meter-high and approximately 120-meter-long RCC cofferdam (the first RCC dam built in Nepal) which was selected to permanently protect the powerhouse against flooding. The dam required placement of approximately 26,500 cubic -meters of RCC. Placement of RCC commenced April 8, 1998 and was completed July 7, 1998 just in time to protect the powerhouse excavation from a two-year flood of the Kali Gandaki River. Unfavorable geological conditions required the dam to be placed on a foundation consisting partially of rock and partially of alluvium. Foundation settlements during the three-months construction period reached a maximum of 90 millimeters. At the time of completion, no cracks were visible in the RCC and seepage under and through the permanent RCC cofferdam was minimal (< 10 liters/second).

Final design of the surge tank back slope includes a 25-meter-high (1.0H: 3.5V) cut in overburden soils (colluvium and landslide debris) and weathered phyllite that is supported with soil dowels 12 to 18 meters in length on 2-meter-centers. The permanent soil-nailed structure (face area approximately 2,000 square-meters) is currently one of the largest in the world. The method was selected to prevent cutting into the toe of an old landslide, which would have removed much of the natural support of the slope. In implementing this method, the 28-meter-wide surge shaft was raised 13 meters, thereby eliminating the need for extensive excavation (approx.30,000 m^3) and treatment of the surge tank back slope, and reducing the risk of a large potential slope failure.

The Kali Gandaki "A" Hydroelectric Power Project is currently the largest project under construction in Nepal and is estimated to cost approximately 470 million U.S. dollars.

Talsperre Leibis/Lichte; Thueringen, Germany

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for development of the preliminary design and construction cost estimate for the proposed Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Alternative of Leibis Dam.


Ueblacker Associates followed the development of this project since 1993 by studying the geological and geotechnical information and results of engineering analyses published in various reports. Based on these evaluations it was concluded that Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) is a strongly viable option for Leibis Dam. Eventually, these efforts lead to a consulting assignment from HOCHTIEF to develop the preliminary design and construction cost estimate for the RCC alternative. Upon review of the tender documents, a preliminary design report was prepared in May 1999 for the RCC alternative which includes the following information and/or recommendations: Probable cross-sections of the dam; Suggested Facing options and details; Probable mix designs; Probable jo int spacing and design details; A brief construction method statement; RCC volumes and target placement rates, and preliminary pricing considerations and ranges. The construction cost estimate and design details were prepared in collaboration with ASI-RCC, Inc., an experienced US engineering contractor in RCC dam construction.


Description: Leibis Dam, originally designed as a conventional mass concrete gravity structure, is the main feature of a new water storage project and would be the first RCC dam to be built in Germany. The dam is 102.5 m high and has a crest length of 370.0 m. The total volume of the dam mass is 550,000 m^3 of which 525,000 m^3 would be comprised of RCC. Rapid construction techniques account for major cost savings in RCC dams. When compared to conventional concrete dams, construction time for large projects can be reduced by 1 to 2 years. The RCC placement rate calculated for Leibis Dam is 2,700 m^3 per day and would allow the project to be completed in only 9 months at an estimated cost of approximately US$ 23.4 million. This represents a considerable savings to the project when compared with the cost of a conventional mass concrete gravity dam estimated at US$92.7 million.

Hydroelectric Power Project; Peru Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for development of the conceptual and preliminary designs and construction cost estimate for a proposed 100 meter-high Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) Dam. Comprehensive project evaluation including analysis of geological and geotechnical information!

Duration: 1999 - 2000 (6 months)

Description: Confidential!

Highway and Building Projects in Colorado and California, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for evaluating the geological conditions and developing solutions for numerous slope stability and foundation problems. Work includes detailed engineering geological investigations and design of rock slopes, embankments, and foundations. Landslide, rock fall and avalanche mitigation. Design, supervision of construction and testing of permanent ground support systems consisting of tendons, rock bolts, soil nailing and micro-pile applications, and tieback walls. Pre-construction evaluation of new mountain highway projects in Colorado (Wolf Creek Pass and Snowmass Canyon) with a total contract volume exceeding US$100 million.

Duration: 1998 – 2003


Central Colorado Project (formerly Union Park Project); Gunnison County, Colorado, USA

Tasks Performed: Consultant responsible for conducting the feasibility level geological and geotechnical investigations for Union Park Dam. Work includes the determination of earthquake and flood loading parameters, detailed surface geological mapping of the dam site including seismic refraction surveys, rock mass characterization, stability evaluation, preliminary design and cost analysis of a 575-ft.-high and 2,050-ft-long proposed RCC gravity dam. A technical paper entitled “Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design of Union Park Dam” has been published in the Proceedings of the 26th USSD Annual Meeting and Conference, May 1-5, 2006, San Antonio, Texas. Additional, more detailed information about the proposed project and the feasibility level geological and geotechnical investigations and engineering analyses completed for Union Park Dam, can be found in the reports on the worldwide web: http://www.ueblacker.us

Duration: 2003 - present

Documents

UeblackerAssociates New 2006 - Ueblacker Associatesueblacker.us/UeblackerAssociates.pdf · Underground Cavern and Tunnel Design Pressure Tunnel Design Highway Planning and Engineering