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Evaluation of the overflow failure scenario and hydrograph of an embankment dam with a concrete upstream slope protection

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Abstract

The standard procedure in Quebec, Canada, for evaluating the failure of an embankment dam, per the Loi sur la sécurité des barrages, specifies a 30-min-long failure scenario with a breach width equal to four times the maximal height of the dam. We demonstrate a new method for evaluating the flood overtopping failure scenario for embankment dams with concrete upstream slope protection, using Toulnustouc dam for example computations. Our new methodology computes safety factors for a range of potential failure mechanisms taking into account geotechnical, hydraulic, and structural factors. We compile the results of our investigations of the various dam failure mechanisms and compare the corresponding dam failure hydrographs to the current hydrograph specified in the standard analysis procedures. Our investigations tend to invalidate the current standard procedures for evaluating the failure of rock-fill dams with concrete upstream faces, by indicating that the current standard procedures underestimate the peak failure discharge and overestimate the time to the peak discharge.

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Acknowledgments

This work was possible through the support of the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des Génies Civil, Géologique et des Mines, Polytechnique Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succ. Centreville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada

    François Chiganne, Claude Marche & Tew-Fik Mahdi

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  1. François Chiganne
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  2. Claude Marche
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  3. Tew-Fik Mahdi
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Correspondence to Tew-Fik Mahdi.

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Chiganne, F., Marche, C. & Mahdi, TF. Evaluation of the overflow failure scenario and hydrograph of an embankment dam with a concrete upstream slope protection. Nat Hazards 71, 21–39 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0897-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0897-2

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