Types of failure in earthen dam

1. Hyraulic Failures 
2. Seepage Failures 
3. Structural Failures 

1. Hydraulic failure

• Over topping
• Erosion of upstream face
• Cracking due to frost action
• Erosion of downstream face due to rain
• Erosion of the downstream toe

 

2. Seepage failure

• Piping through the foundation of the dam.
• Piping through the body of the dam.
• Seepage by the outer surface of the conduits.
• Sloughing of the downstream toe.

3. Structural failure

• Foundation slides
• Embankment slides.
• Excessive settlement of dam foundations.
• liquifaction slides.