The paper describes the results of a statistical analysis of failures and accidents of embankment dams, specifically concentrating on those incidents involving piping and slope instability. The compilation of dam incidents includes details on the characteristics of the dams, including dam zoning, filters, core soil types, compaction, foundation cutoff, and foundation geology. An assessment of the characteristics of the world population of dams was also carried out. By comparing the characteristics of the dams which have experienced failures and accidents to those of the population of dams, it was possible to assess the relative influence of particular factors on the likelihood of piping and slope instability.Key words: dams, failures, piping, instability database.

A method for estimating the relative likelihood of failure of embankment dams by piping, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) method, is based on an analysis of historic failures and accidents in embankment dams. The likelihood of failure of a dam by piping is estimated by adjusting the historical frequency of piping failure by weighting factors which take into account the dam zoning, filters, age of the dam, core soil types, compaction, foundation geology, dam performance, and monitoring and surveillance. The method is intended only for preliminary assessments, as a ranking method for portfolio risk assessments, to identify dams to prioritise for more detailed studies, and as a check on event-tree methods. Information about the time interval in which piping failure developed and the warning signs which were observed suggest that the piping process often develops rapidly, giving little time for remedial action. In the piping accidents, the piping process reached some limiting condition allowing sufficient time to draw down the reservoir or carry out remedial works to prevent breaching.Key words: dams, failures, risk, probability, piping.