1. Vaiont Dam Matt Hanson (4002290) Chris Nicholson (4004603)

2. 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

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

4. GEOLOGY

5. WHAT HAPPENED

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

7. SOLUTIONS ADOPTED Feb 1960 - 1 st filling of Reservoir – varying level of water Oct 1961 - 2 nd filling – surface movement rates increased April 1963 - 3 rd filling – movement rates increased further Sept 1963, water levels dropped to bring creep under control October 9 th – catastrophic failure

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