Topic Tables: Static Liquefaction Risk and Impacts on Water Dams

Liquefaction phenomena can be divided into two main groups: flow liquefaction (also known as static liquefaction) and cyclic mobility. Static liquefaction, or more accurately flow liquefaction, is rarely evaluated for water storage dams. The mechanism and triggers for this liquefaction phenomenon are distinctly different from those of the commonly evaluated cyclic mobility. Static liquefaction is cited as the root cause for failures of multiple water storage dams. It was judged to be the most plausible primary mechanism for the failure of Edenville Dam in 2020. Static liquefaction evaluations have become a standard component of geotechnical evaluations for upstream raised dams in the tailings industry. There is a growing need for systematic consideration of static liquefaction as a failure mechanism in the water dam industry.