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Causes of Failures of Earthfill

Dams
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Earthfill dams are less rigid and more susceptible to failure. Like
most of engineering structures, earth dams may fail due to
various reasons such as faulty design, improper construction
and poor maintenance practices, etc. Different causes of failure
of earthfill dams are explained below.

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Causes of Failure of Earthfill Dams

Different causes of failure of earthfill dams are as follows:

1. Hydraulic Failures

2. Seepage Failures

3. Structural Failures

1. Hydraulic Failures of Earthfill Dams

4 out every 10 earthen dams have failed due to hydraulic
failures. The Hydraulic failure of an earthen dam arise due to
any of the following causes.

Erosion of Upstream face

Erosion of Downstream toe

Due to Over-topping

Due to Frost Action

Due to formation of Gullies

Fig 1: Various Causes of Failures of Earth dams

1.1 Erosion of Upstream face

The upstream face of dam may subjected water waves which are
formed due to winds and these waves notch-out the soil from
upstream face which causes erosion. Sometimes this may also
cause slip of upstream slope. To overcome this, stone pitching or
rip rap should be provided on upstream face of dam.

Fig 2: Erosion of Upstream

1.2 Erosion of Downstream toe

The tail water present on the downstream side or cross-currents

may come from spillway buckets may affects the downstream
toe portion and erosion occurs.

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To prevent this problem, stone pitching or rip rap should be

provided on the downstream face of dam up to a depth of
normal tail water level. To prevent cross currents from spillway,
sidewalls of spillway should be constructed with adequate height
and length.

Fig 3: Erosion of Downstream Due to Spillway Overflow

1.3 Due to Over-topping

Hydraulic failure also occurs when the water over-tops the dam
crest. This may be due to insufficient capacity of spillway or
design without proper estimation of flood level or problem in
lifting of spillway gates during flood times. To prevent over-
topping of dam, adequate freeboard should be provided.

Fig 4: Over-topping of Dam

1.4 Due to Frost Action

In low temperature zones, the upper portion of dam may

subjected to frost and heaves and cracks may form in the soil.
These cracks will cause seepage through them cause failure. So,
in such zones, additional freeboard should be provided which is
generally 1.5 m excess to the normally provided freeboard.

1.5 Erosion of Downstream face Due to Gullies

When the downstream face of dam is subjected to heavy rains,

the rainwater or runoff will flow with high downward velocities
which causes erosion of soil on the downstream face and this
may also lea to formation of gullies.

This can be prevented by providing berms on the downstream

face at suitable heights. Drainage facilities should be provided at
these berms so, runoff will be collected here before reaching
high downward velocity resulting elimination of erosion.

By grassing the downstream face also erosion due to runoff can

be prevented. It is also important to inspect and fill the gullies or
cuts with new soil from time to time during rainy seasons.

Fig 5: Formation of Gullies Due to Rainwater

2. Seepage Failure of Earthfill Dams

Seepage through earthen dam is casual but it is considered as
harmless when it is limited or controllable. If it is uncontrollable
or concentrated seepage then there occurs problems such as
piping and sloughing. 1 out of every 3 failed dam cases have
seepage failures.

Piping through Foundation

Piping through Dam body

Sloughing of Downstream toe

2.1 Piping through Foundation

When the foundation of earthen dam consists gravel or coarse

sand layers or fissures etc., the water from upstream will seep
through it. The seepage at higher gradient erode the soil and
creates hollow spaces inside the foundation which is called as
piping through foundation.

This problem will cause the dam to sink downwards resulting

failure of dam. Hard and impermeable strata should be selected
as foundation for dam to avoid piping through foundation.

Fig 6 : Piping Through Foundation

2.2 Piping through Dam body

Piping through dam body will occur due to seepage of water

through dam body. This is mainly due to insufficient compaction
of soil used for the dam, faulty construction of dam, shrinkage
cracks, animal burrows in dam body, etc.

This problem will arise mostly near the pipe conduits passing
through dam body. Piping may develop due to seepage along the
outer side of conduit or due to leakage of conduit inside the dam
body. To prevent this, the soil layers around the conduits must be
fully compacted as well as the conduits should not be
overloaded.

Fig 7: Piping Through Dam Body Near Conduit Region

2.3 Sloughing of Downstream toe

IF the downstream toe of dam gets saturated by piping or any

seepage action, it will get eroded and forms small slide or small
slump. The slump will create steeper face which again gets
eroded due to seepage and form slump again. This progressive
removal of saturated soil is called sloughing. This will finally
lead to removal of soil from whole downstream face and makes
the dam body thin resulting failure of dam.

Fig 8: Sloughing of Downstream

3. Structural Failure of Earthfill Dams

Another cause for failure of earthen dams is structural failures.
About 1/4th of earthen dams have failed due to structural
failures.

Sliding of Foundation

Sliding of Embankment

3.1 Sliding of Foundation

Sliding of foundation is nothing of sliding of whole dam body.

This occurs when the foundation contain soft clay, fine silt etc.
This type of foundation material will cause sliding of entire dam
which will cause cracks on the top of embankment and forms
mud waves near the upstream heel.

Fig 9: Sliding of Foundation

3.2 Sliding of Embankment

Sliding of embankment occurs when the slope of embankment is

too steep. When the reservoir water level is suddenly draw
down, then there is a chance of sliding of upstream slope.
Similarly when the reservoir is at full level, then there is a
chance of downstream slope failure.

Fig 10: Upstream Slope Failure

The above failures are mainly due to excessive pore water

pressure which reduces the soil shear strength. Among the both
cases, downstream slope slide is very dangerous. Most of
embankments are failed during consolidation process.

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About Sadanandam Anupoju

Sadananda is a Civil Engineer and is an Author, Editor and Partner of
The Constructor since 2016.

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