Embankment Dam Inspection – FEMA Guidelines

D. Allen Hughes, P.E.

Course Outline

Introduction
Inspecting the Dam Embankment
Embankment Dam Characteristics
Types of Embankment Dams
Earthfill Dams
Rockfill Dams
EMBANKMENT DAM FEATURES
Upstream Slope
Downstream Slope
Crest and Shoulders
Downstream Toe or Toe
Abutment
Reservoir Water Conveyance Structures
Toe Drain
Reference Conventions  
EMBANKMENT INSPECTION TECHNIQUES
SEEPAGE
CRACKING
INSTABILITY
Slides
Lateral Spreading
SINKHOLES
DEPRESSIONS
MAINTENCE CONCERNS
Maintenance Concerns
Inadequate Slope Protection
Surface Runoff Erosion
Gullies
Slope and Crest Protection
Vegetative Growth
Debris
Burrowing Animals
SUMMARY
Deficiencies to Look For
When to Get Further Assistance
SIMPLE

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will have learned or been exposed to the following:

• The basic principles of inspecting embankment dams;
• Describe the characteristics of embankment dams;
• Describe the different types of embankment dams;
• List the principal features of an embankment dam;  
• Describe the functions of each feature;
• Describe the procedures for inspecting the upstream slope of embankment dams;
• Describe the procedures for inspecting the downstream slope of embankment dam;
• Describe the procedures for inspecting the crest of embankment dams;
• Describe the procedures for inspecting the abutments of embankment dams;
• Describe the procedures for inspecting the downstream toe of embankment dams;
• Describe the procedures for inspecting the seepage collection drains of embankment dams;
• Identify and explain the characteristics of seepage;
• Identify and explain the characteristics cracking;
• Identify and explain the characteristics instability;
• Identify and explain the characteristics sinkholes;
• Identify and explain the characteristics depressions;
• Identify and explain the characteristics inadequate maintenance;
• Identify and explain the potential consequences of seepage;
• Identify and explain the potential consequences cracking;
• Identify and explain the potential consequences instability;
• Identify and explain the potential consequences sinkholes;
• Identify and explain the potential consequences depressions;
• Identify and explain the potential consequences inadequate maintenance; and
• Explain what actions should be taken to protect the dam embankment.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for use by engineers, dam owners, maintenance contractors, operators, inspectors, dam safety regulators, consultants and landscape architects.

Benefit to Attendees

Engineers, dam owners, dam safety officials and maintenance contractors will gain an understanding from this course of the areas to be inspected on an embankment dam according to FEMA recommended practices. Additionally, this course could be useful as a guide for training to an embankment dam inspection.

Course Introduction

This course will provide a fundamental understanding of embankment dam inspection according to FEMA recommended practices.

If you are new to dam safety inspection, the material presented in this course will provide important background information. The discussion of the inspection process is designed to provide the inspector with guidance for conducting a comprehensive inspection of a dam embankment.

If you have experience with embankment dams, this course will provide a brief refresher on key terminology used in FEMA embankment dam inspection. Since terminology can differ from agency to agency, you may find it helpful to review this section to become familiar with how terms will be used in this module.

Course Content

The content of this course is a workbook titled “Inspection of Embankment Dams” published by FEMA.

Inspection of Embankment Dams (FEMA Workbook)

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

Remember, whenever you are unsure whether or not a condition poses a threat to the safety of the dam, you should discuss your findings with a qualified engineer.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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