CAUSES OF DAM FAILURE - Dam failure is defined by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) as the ‘collapse or movement of part of a dam or its foundation, so that the dam cannot retain water. Why Dams Fail - In general, a failure results in the release of large quantities of water, posing serious risks for the people or property downstream. The most common cause of failure of earth and rock-fill dams is overtopping (31% as primary cause and 18% as secondary cause). This is followed by internal erosion in the body of the dam (15% as primary cause and 13% as secondary cause) and in the foundation (12% as primary cause and 5% as secondary cause). With masonry dams, the most common cause is overtopping (43%) followed by internal erosion in the foundation (29%). Where other works were the seat of the failure, the most common cause was inadequate spillway capacity (22% as primary cause and 30% as secondary cause). Foundation problems are the most common cause of failure in concrete dams, with internal erosion and insufficient shear strength of the foundation each accounting for 21% of failures. Use of Sub-standard Construction Materials Inadequate Maintenance and upkeep funding Design Error or outdated design Overtopping Foundation Defects Cracking Piping Changes in Land use Changes in Weather pattern

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Causes of Dam Failure

By: Haseeb Jamal

Causes of Dam Failure

Dam failure is defined by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) as the ‘collapse or movement of part of a dam or its foundation, so that the dam cannot retain water.

Causes of Dam Failure - Why Dams Fail

In general, a failure results in the release of large quantities of water, posing serious risks for the people or property downstream.

The most common cause of failure of earth and rock-fill dams is overtopping (31% as primary cause and 18% as secondary cause).

This is followed by internal erosion in the body of the dam (15% as primary cause and 13% as secondary cause) and in the foundation (12% as primary cause and 5% as secondary cause).

With masonry dams, the most common cause is overtopping (43%) followed by internal erosion in the foundation (29%).

Where other works were the seat of the failure, the most common cause was inadequate spillway capacity (22% as primary cause and 30% as secondary cause).

Foundation problems are the most common cause of failure in concrete dams, with internal erosion and insufficient shear strength of the foundation each accounting for 21% of failures.

1.    Use of Sub-standard Construction Materials

2.    Inadequate Maintenance and upkeep funding

3.    Design Error or outdated design

4.    Overtopping

5.    Foundation Defects

6.    Cracking

7.    Piping

8.    Changes in Land use

9.    Changes in Weather pattern

Haseeb Jamal. I am a Civil Engineer, graduated from University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan in 2010. I also have a PG-Diploma in Disaster Management and MS in Urban Infrastructure Engineering (In Progress). My expertise include civil related softwares like AutoCAD, SAP2000, MS Project, Primavera, MS Office and GIS. My technical skills include project management, monitoring and evaluation, structural assessment, disaster risk management, Quantity survey, land survey, material testing, site management and technical writing. I am trained in writing project progress reports as well as proposals and concept papers. I have also received advanced training on surveying, proposal writing, Monitoring and Evaluation of projects as well as organizations.

I have worked as Project Engineer at National Research and Development Foundation, Peshawar and CENCON Associates. I also worked with Spectra Engineering Solutions as Senior Civil Engineer in monitoring of World Bank and UNDP funded projects all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. Currently, I am working as Deputy Manager Development at NayaTel, Peshawar.

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