Dam Owner Fact Sheet: Concrete Gravity Dam Failures

ASDSO Resources for Dam Owners and Operators: https://damsafety.org/dam-owners

This fact sheet will discuss failure modes for concrete gravity dams. Similar dam types, such as concrete buttress, arch, and slab, may have similar failure modes.

As the nation’s dams age, the potential for dam failures grows. These failures can cause immense property and environmental damage and threaten thousands of lives. Owners of dams and operating and maintenance personnel must be knowledgeable of the potential problems and failure modes that can lead to dam failure. If a problem is noted early enough, corrective measures can be implemented.