Question

Which failure occurs when the minimum stress exceeds the allowable compressive stress of the dam material?

(a) Overturning

(b) Crushing

(c) Sliding

(d) By development of tension

I have been asked this question in my homework.

This interesting question is from Gravity Dams in division Gravity Dam Design and Construction of Irrigation Engineering

Answer 1

The correct choice is (b) Crushing

To explain I would say: The compressive stress produced if exceeds the allowable stresses then the dam material may get crushed, a dam may fail by the failure of its own material. The allowable compressive stress of concrete is generally taken as 3000 KN/m^2.