Embankment Dam Slope Stability 101

Design of new embankment dams, and the more common scenario of reviewing the conditions of existing dams, should, as general practice, include evaluating the stability of the embankment structure. Stability, in the simplest definition, refers to the ability of a slope to resist the driving forces tending to move earth materials downslope. The stability of an embankment can be adversely affected by excessive stresses on the crest or slopes, sudden addition or loss of water in the reservoir, changes in internal water pressures, or loss of materials due to erosion (both internal, such as piping, and external, such as surface erosion). Stability conditions of a dam can be assessed using both visual and analytical methods.