Sonic Drilling on Embankment Dams and Levees

Abstract Sonic drilling, auger drilling, and cable-tool drilling are the preferred methods utilized to drill through le-vees and embankment dams. Sonic drilling is the most recently developed of the three and has distinct advantages over the other methods. Notably, sonic drilling offers a high rate of advance through most materials while still protecting embankments from erosion and hydrofracturing. The method is not without limitations, as cost and space constraints prevent it from being the most effective choice in some circumstances.