The 1786 earthquake-triggered landslide dam and subsequent dam-break flood on the Dadu river, southwestern China

Abstract

Forensic studies of past hydraulic structure failures are rare despite their critical relevance to modern hydraulic design, and the writers (DAI et al. 2005) must be congratulated for their outstanding study. Herein the discussion is focused on two aspects of the conclusion. It is believed that dam overtopping was the primary cause of the Dadu river landside dam failure, although aftershocks may have further weakened the embankment. Using physically-based equations supported by recent physical model data, the maximum outflow may be estimated to be about 6,000 m 3 /s.

Formation, failure, and consequences of the Xiaolin landslide dam, triggered by extreme rainfall from Typhoon Morakot, Taiwan

“…There have been many huge landslide dam failure events worldwide, including the failure of landslide dams in Southwestern China in 1786 (Chanson 2005;Dai et al 2005;Liu et al 2010;Xu et al 2009). It has been claimed that at least 5,500 deaths have occurred due to landslide dam failure events in China since 1900.…”

Embankment dam spillways and energy dissipators

“…A number of studies on embankment breaching were conducted during the last fifteen years (Coleman et al 2002, Rozov 2003, Chanson 2005, Dai et al 2005, Hanson et al 2005, Morris et al 2007, ASCE/EWRI Task Committee on Dam/Levee Breaching 2011). Most experimental studies under carefully-controlled laboratory flow conditions, together with prototype observations, showed that the embankment breach starts with an initiation phase, followed by a rapid development of the breach, and then an enlargement of breach width once the breach invert reaches the main channel bed substrate.…”

Labyrinth and Piano Key Weirs II

“…A number of studies on embankment breaching were conducted during the last fifteen years (Coleman et al 2002, Rozov 2003, Chanson 2005, Dai et al 2005, Hanson et al 2005, Morris et al 2007, ASCE/EWRI Task Committee on Dam/Levee Breaching 2011). Most experimental studies under carefully-controlled laboratory flow conditions, together with prototype observations, showed that the embankment breach starts with an initiation phase, followed by a rapid development of the breach, and then an enlargement of breach width once the breach invert reaches the main channel bed substrate.…”

“…The MEL inlet system was developed for embankment dam applications where the river catchment is characterised by large rainfalls and a very small bed slope. x 2002, data re-analysis by Chanson (2004Chanson ( ,2005, embankment height; H 1 = 0.30 mm, length: L = 1.7 m, upstream and downstream slopes: 1V:2.7H, 1.6 mm sand, constant upstream head experiment…”