This book provides a comprehensive text on the geotechnical and geological aspects of the investigations for and the design and construction of new dams and the review and assessment of existing dams. The book provides dam engineers and geologists with a practical approach, and gives university students an insight into the subject of dam engineering. All phases of investigation, design and construction are covered, through to the preliminary and detailed design phases and ultimately the construction phase. This revised and expanded 2nd edition includes a lengthy new chapter on the assessment of the likelihood of failure of dams by internal erosion and piping.

Dams are critical structures in the sense that damage or breach of even a small dam may cause an unacceptable loss of life and property. Therefore, the safety of dams over the intended lifespan is of utmost importance for unrestricted operation. The basic prerequisites for any safe and successful operation of a dam include state-of-the-art design, experimental investigations of the construction material and properties of the foundation, a refined theoretical analysis of relevant load cases, and high-quality construction. In the past decades, many advancements have been achieved in both construction technologies and design, including those for the prediction of the long-term behavior of dams under various loading conditions. As such, this book examines these advancements with respect to the design, construction, and performance of earth, rockfill, and concrete dams. Over eight chapters, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the latest progress and research in dam engineering.

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

Geotechnical Engineering of Dams, 2nd edition provides a comprehensive text on the geotechnical and geological aspects of the investigations for and the design and construction of new dams and the review and assessment of existing dams. The main emphasis of this work is on embankment dams, but much of the text, particularly those parts related to geology, can be used for concrete gravity and arch dams. All phases of investigation, design and construction are covered. Detailed descriptions are given from the initial site assessment and site investigation program through to the preliminary and detailed design phases and, ultimately, the construction phase. The assessment of existing dams, including the analysis of risks posed by those dams, is also discussed. This wholly revised and significantly expanded 2nd edition includes a lengthy new appendix on the assessment of the likelihood of failure of dams by internal erosion and piping. This valuable source on dam engineering incorporates the 200+ years of collective experience of the authors in the subject area. Design methods are presented in combination with their theoretical basis, to enable the reader to develop a proper understanding of the possibilities and limitations of a method. For its practical, well-founded approach, this work can serve as a useful guide for professional dam engineers and engineering geologists and as a textbook for university students.

Besides giving an historical introduction to embankment dams the book describes the need for instrumentation, planning procurement and installation practices of instruments. The significance of visual inspection and techniques, of monitoring various parameters, seepage, pore pressure, surface and internal displacements, earth pressures and seismic behaviour, through instrumentation has been described. Collection and processing of data and their use for back analysis to check stability of a dam at various stages of construction and reservoir filling have been suggested. In addition to case histories quoted in various chapters, an exclusive chapter on select case histories has been added which describes the conventional and latest instruments that are being used and methods adopted for installation, monitoring and analyses of data.

This manual presents fundamental principles underlying the design and construction of earth and rock-fill dams. The general principles presented herein are also applicable to the design and construction of earth levees.