Abstract

The stability of the dam is the most crucial factor in the development of hydropower. Traditionally, surface geological mapping and monitoring of the structure's surface behavior are used for stability assessments and investigations. However, those methods frequently offer insufficient details about the subsurface and the stability of the dam's construction. Although there are various geophysical methods available for subsurface investigation, it is unclear which is best depending on the situation, the available resources, and the time and/or money restrictions. Geophysical methods are thought of as cost-effective instruments to offer continuous subsurface information. In order to assess each method's efficacy in providing geological subsurface information about the evaluation of the weak zone of the earth fill dam structure of the Kulekhani Hydroelectric Project, Nepal, two widely used geophysical methods— two-dimensional (2D) resistivity imaging and Micro Tremor Array Measurement (MAM)—were directly compared. The accuracy of these approaches' conclusions about the depth of the weak zone and field functionality was compared. The outcomes showed that the MAM and the 2D resistivity approaches provide precise subsurface information on dam weak zones.