Question

In foundation slide failure___________________________

(a) top of embankment gets cracked and lower slope moves outward forming large mud waves near the heel

(b) top of embankment gets cracked and lower slope moves inward forming large mud waves near the heel

(c) bottom of embankment gets cracked and lower slope moves outward forming large mud waves near the heel

(d) bottom of embankment gets cracked and lower slope moves inward forming large mud waves near the heel

This question was posed to me in class test.

My question comes from Failure of Earthen Dams topic in chapter Earthen and Rock Fill Dams of Irrigation Engineering

Answer 1

The correct choice is (a) top of embankment gets cracked and lower slope moves outward forming large mud waves near the heel

To explain I would say: The entire dam may slide or just one face slides over the foundation when the foundation of earth dams is made of soft soils. Then the foundation bulges out on the side of the movement. The top of the embankment gets cracked and lower slope moves outward forming large mud waves near the heel.