Safeguarding dams and levees from internal erosion failure (2023)
Abstract
This project aims to improve the reliability and robustness of quantifying the risk of internal erosion failure in dams and levees. Existing industry approaches are reliant on judgement and experience. Using an innovative approach that integrates a variety of data sources, this project expects to objectively quantify risk based on the underlying internal erosion mechanisms. Expected outcomes include the translation of new knowledge to update current empirical understanding, the development of models to directly assess risk, and additional data to obtain the probability of failure. This should provide significant benefits by reducing subjectivity in assessing risk and improving industry confidence in identifying susceptible assets.