Modes of dam failure and monitoring and measuring techniques scoping study
A scoping study to identify gaps in knowledge about modes of failure of dams and the monitoring and measuring methods for embankment dams.
Details
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Documents
Defra produced a strategy in 2009 for reservoir safety research and development. This identified a number of areas for research projects, which would bring together best practice, operational experience and recent developments in the management of existing dams in the UK.
This report provides the findings from a scoping study into two of the areas of research identified in Defra’ strategy:
- modes of failure of dams and failure of monitoring techniques
- monitoring and measuring methods for embankment dams
This scoping study investigates how much information is available to the reservoir industry on these topics and identifies gaps in knowledge.
The study concludes all potential hazards to a dam need to be understood in order to fully understand the modes of failure. The report defines 48 hazards, ranging from rapid drawdown of the reservoir to overflow failure. A summary of existing research is provided for each of the hazards, and gaps in knowledge are identified.
The study ran from 2008 to 2011 and was carried out in consultation with the reservoir industry, which included:
- reservoir owners, managers and supervising engineers
- reservoir panel engineers and consultants
- academics
- representatives from the Environment Agency