The authors’ analysis is excellent, especially since the project did not accept their requests for access or information.
They correctly predicted that 2 of the other saddle dams may face similar instability. We have seen that repair and upgrade work on those other saddle dams is also being carried out.
Proper Geotech investigation during design and construction should have shown what the authors have deduced from essentially a desktop study that the potentially weak and highly permeable foundation needed to be considered as part of the design.
I also agree regarding the second to last paragraph about the inaccurate perception that concrete dams are superior, a dam needs to be designed fit for purpose, earth embankment or concrete it doesn’t matter if the natural foundation is the weakness.
It’s very important that everyone in the industry understands what happened and how to prevent the same thing from happening again.
