Workshop on Internal Erosion and Piping of Dams and Foundations 25-27 April 2005 Aussois France

Organizers : J.-J. Fry (EDF/CIH) and R. Fell (University of New South Wales)

Programme, Introduction by J-J Fry

Monday 25 April 2005

Topic 1 – Initiation

• Fell, A Framework for Assessing the Likelihood of Internal Erosion and Piping of Embankment Dams and their Foundations
• Wan, Experimental investigation of internal erosion by the process of suffusion
• Lafleur, Internal stability of particles in dam cores made of broadly graded moraines
• Fry, Suffusion processes in dykes
• Marot, A specific triaxial device for the study of internal erosion on cohesive soils
• Reiffsteck, Evaluation of erosion of earthworks subjected to submersion using laboratory testing

Topic 2 – Continuation

• Bridle, Assessing the vulnerability of dams to internal erosion
• Royet, Internal erosion problems encountered on dams and dikes in France (historical cases)
• Gillon, Matahina, New Zealand – a re-evaluation of two piping incidents
• Bartsch, Internal erosion in the Porjus Dam – risk assessment and proposal for upgrading

Tuesday 26 April 2005

Topic 2 – Continuation

• Foster, Application of no, some, excessive and continuing erosion criteria
• Nilsson, Filters and internal erosion in Swedish dams, The susceptibility of internal erosion in the Suorva Dam
• Ronnqvist, Prediction on Swedish embankment dams internal instability and risk of internal erosion by using currently available methods in correlation to operative history
• Vuola, Internal erosion of Finnish dams
• Nguyen, Behavior of the Till Cores and Control of Seepage in Soil Foundations, HYDRO-QUEBEC Experience
• Nguyen and Smith, Internal erosion problems in dam foundations Vietnam case studies

Topic 3 & 4 – Progression and breach

• R Taisant, CNR's dikes and internal erosion
• Benahmed, Research program on internal erosion at CEMAGREF – laboratory, equipment and program
• Kahawita, Firebird breach – a numerical model for breach formation in earthfill dams by overtopping of the crest
• Blais, Breach Relationship

Wednesday 27 April 2005

Topic 5 – Detection & Intervention

• Dornstadier, Is internal erosion detectable in situ?
• Johansson, Detection of internal erosion in embankment dams – possible methods in theory and practice
• Perzlmaier, Distributed seepage flow velocity measurements
• Palma Lopes, Geophysical methods available for surveying safety embankments against floods: in situ evaluation, recommendation guide and research needs
• Chopin, Ground treatment for soils susceptible to internal erosion

Topic 6 – Frameworks & Decision Processes

• Cyaniewicz, Bureau of Reclamation experience with evaluating internal erosion of embankment dams
• Garner, On the problem of managing the propensity for earth dams to fail through the process of internal erosion
• Brown, Developments in the management of internal erosion in UK embankment dams

Book

Fell R. and Fry J.-J. (edts), Internal Erosion of Dams and Their Foundations: Selected and Reviewed Papers from the Workshop on Internal Erosion and Piping of Dams and their Foundations, Aussois, France, 25–27 April 2005, Taylor & Francis, 2007, 245 pages.

SUMMARY

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.