Safety of rockfill dams subject to overtopping

摘要

This presentation provides a general overview of the safety problem concerning rocfill dams which may be exceptionally or- more rarely- in normal conditions of operation, subject to an overtopping situation. A procedure is proposed in order to verify their safety conditons, taking into account the possibility of failure due to progressive scour or due to sudden mass sliding, and certin measures are suggested which may improve new or existing dams safety, stressing also the need for a new design approach which considers such measures.