Vaiont Dam Matt Hanson ( ) Chris Nicholson ( )

INTRODUCTION One of the Largest Dams in the World Completed in 1961 Cupola dam 266m high Lies on the Vaiont River Generates Hydro-Electric Power Stored Water spilt over the Dam

GEOLOGY Geological Structure – Syncline Sedimentary Rocks – Shale and Limestone Slip Surface along Weak Bedding Planes Reservoir Filled Old Slip Surface Began to Move

GEOLOGY

WHAT HAPPENED

ENGINEERING APPROACHES Groundwater Pressures – increase drainage Geology Consulting – saturated clay layer Slip Surface Engineer’s Error

SOLUTIONS ADOPTED Feb st filling of Reservoir – varying level of water Oct nd filling – surface movement rates increased April rd filling – movement rates increased further Sept 1963, water levels dropped to bring creep under control October 9 th – catastrophic failure

CONCLUSION Reservoir Inappropriate for Area Engineers Incompetence Major Disaster for Civil Engineering Highlighted the importance of Geological Surveys