Icold Bulletin 164: Internal Erosion Workshop, Friday June 14, Ottawa, Canada

Internal erosion is a major cause of embankment dam failures and incidents. ICOLD Bulletin 164 on internal erosion in existing dams, dikes and levees and their foundations provides practical guidance on dealing with the threat of internal erosion in existing water-retaining embankments. Presentations in this workshop will cover the four modes of internal erosion as well as applications of Bulletin 164 to explain incidents and target remediation. Case studies and the latest research will be presented by prominent international practitioners, researchers and academics.

This workshop is aimed at dam engineers and technical specialists, regulators and dam owners involved in the design, construction and operation of dams, levees and tailings dams. Participants will gain improved understanding of internal erosion mechanics and how to make engineering assessments to limit the risks related to this phenomenon.

ICOLD Bulletin 164 provides a comprehensive qualitative understanding of internal erosion and the means to quantify the hydraulic forces that will cause failure through the four internal erosion mechanisms: concentrated leak erosion, suffusion, backward erosion and piping, and contact erosion. It gives methods to assess the filtering capability of filters and fills; guidance on investigations and engineering analyses, and on remediation and surveillance. Recent research has added to the usefulness of the Bulletin, notably in backward erosion and piping, as a case history shows. An important conclusion is that it is not possible to anticipate the onset of internal erosion to failure through surveillance and monitoring; and as failure occurs rapidly, the critical hydraulic load, water level, should be predicted by investigations and engineering analysis, and remediation completed if necessary, before large floods occur.

Organizers & Conference Chairs
Rodney Bridle & Marc Smith