Internal Erosion of Dams and their Foundations

Internal erosion and piping in embankments and their foundations is the main cause of failures and accidents to embankment dams. For new dams, the potential for internal erosion and piping can be controlled by good design and construction of the core of the dam and provision of filters to intercept seepage through the embankment and the foundations. This book presents selected and reviewed papers from the Workshop on Internal Erosion and Piping of Dams and their Foundations, which was held from 25 to 27 April, 2005 in Aussois, France. The book covers the whole internal erosion process, from initiation of erosion, continuation, progression to form a pipe, and formation of a breach. An overview paper based on the papers and discussion at the Workshop describes the state of the art and research needs. Internal Erosion of Dams and their Foundations will be most valuable to dam engineers, researchers and students who are involved in assessing the safety of embankment dams from internal erosion and piping.