Multiple Factors May Contribute to Internal Erosion Failures

Message: Poor compaction and freeze-thaw cycles increase liklihood of internal erosion.

Background: A dam in Montana failed due to internal erosion. The failure occured during a period of above average temperatures in mid-January. The snow melt caused a rapid first filling of the reservoir impounded by the newly reconstructed dam. In late January, a sink hole was noticed adjacent to the spillway tower and a significant amount of water was exiting through the embankment (estimated 5 to 10 cfs). Water was exiting the embankment through a void above the conduit at the downstream face and flowing into the stilling basin. Seepage developed as a result of: 1) Poor compaction around the drop inlet and vent pipe. 2) Freeze-thaw processes that reduced the fill density and increased permeability. 3) The filter sand placed as pipe bedding wasn't compacted, likely leading to settlement, which created an open space below the concrete that allowed seepage to flow freely. 4) Very little confining soil over the downstream filter resulted in a short seepage path that allowed seepage to exit through the filter sand.

Lessons Learned:

Fill around vent pipe and drop inlet should be mechanically compacted.
Filter sand should be compacted for horizontal blankets and vertical chimneys or diaphragms.
The blanket drain should extend across the bottom of the foundation, below the conduit subgrade, instead of adjacent to the conduit, to allow for mechanical compaction and to provide more resistance to the progression of potential piping along the outlet conduit.
Consideration should be given to reduce the potential for freezing of the embankment adjacent to the outlet conduit. One idea includes a flap gate at the downstream end of the conduit to reduce the movement of cold air through the conduit.

Flow into void at spillway tower.
Flow exiting void, above conduit, into stilling basin.
Piping void above outlet conduit near spillway tower.
Piping void above conduit (test pit).
Looking downstream in piping void (from test pit). Concrete cap can be seen. Riprap washed in from the upstream face of dam.
Piping void further downstream.
Pipe void with ice on left side of conduit. Arrow indicates concrete cap.

Note: The content on this page was originally created as part of DamOutletWorks.org (DOWL, 2018). It has subsequently been updated and reformatted as part of the Dam Safety Toolbox.
Revision ID: 4685
Revision Date: 12/02/2022