On-Demand Webinar: Cracking and Hydraulic Fracturing in Embankment Dams and Levees
Association of State Dam Safety Officials, 2016
Cracks are likely to develop in most embankment dams and levees, and not just in those that are poorly constructed. This course will present some of the common conditions that can lead to adverse geostatic stress conditions, cracking, and hydraulic fracturing in embankments. Case histories are used to illustrate various crack-forming mechanisms and potential failure modes associated with embankment cracking. The need for caution when considering drilling in the core of a dam is discussed. The course will review practical design measures that can be implemented to defend against internal erosion that is associated with the inevitable formation of cracks in dams and levees.
Key Take-aways:
- Increased awareness of common conditions that lead to unfavorable stresses in embankments.
- Better understanding of crack-forming mechanisms associated with differential deformations and with hydraulic fracturing.
- Need for caution when drilling in the cores of dams.
- Design measures to minimize risk of hydraulic fracturing and to protect against internal erosion.
- Construction considerations to minimize risk of cracking in dams and levees.
Access Training Here
Speaker(s): Deborah J. Miller
Revision ID: 2269
Revision Date: 08/19/2022