Question

Which of the following failures generally occur due to the development of unaccounted pore pressures?

(a) Hydraulic failures

(b) Piping through the dam body

(c) Sliding in embankments

(d) Sloughing of the d/s toe

The question was asked by my college professor while I was bunking the class.

This question is from Failure of Earthen Dams in section Earthen and Rock Fill Dams of Irrigation Engineering

Answer 1

Right choice is (c) Sliding in embankments

To explain I would say: Excessive pore pressure developed due to consideration of clay embedded between sands or silts may reduce the shear strength of the soil. It becomes incapable of resisting the induced shear stresses leading to the failure of dam foundation without warning.