MALAYSIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS

(MYCOLD)
CERTIFIED DAM SAFETY INSPECTOR
BATCH 1

REVISION ASSIGNMENT FROM

PHASE 1 TRAINING COURSE
EXERCISE 3
Instruction
1. This exercise contains 2 questions.
2. Answer all questions.
3. Kindly use the format given to answer the questions.
4. Please fill your detail information at front page.
5. You may add additional pages if required.
6. Kindly return in PDF format to secretariat@mycold.com.my before
3 December 2021.

Name :
Organization :
Email :

In collaboration with:
 MALAYSIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS
(MYCOLD)
CERTIFIED DAM SAFETY INSPECTOR
BATCH 1
In collaboration with:

EXERCISE NO 3 – DAM FAILURE MODES ASSESSMENT

Understanding the credible failure modes associated with a dam prior to any dam safety inspection and
assessment is important to ensure the potential safety risk posted by the dam can be effectively
addressed.

As part of this training course, you will soon be inspecting Kenyir Dam, which is a 150m high earth and
rockfill embankment located on the Kenyir River in Terengganu. The technical dam data will be provided
prior to the inspection.

1. Based on the available technical data and information provided, indicate below which of the
possible failure modes are more or less likely to be a dam safety problem for Kenyir Dam under
various loading conditions, and which you think cannot be decided on the information and
knowledge you have.

Loading Description of failure Credible

Consider the following
condition mode (Y/N/unsure)?
Flood Flood overtopping Always consider.
Flood Spillway blockage Consider logs or debris approaching the spillway.
What are catchment conditions?
Can spillway block easily?
Flood Abutment slip into Can slopes fail and block spillway?
/earthquake spillway Single/multiple chutes?
Flood Stability of spillway What are foundation conditions?
structure, Any weakness planes?
chute/channel walls or Drainage system and blockages?
floor Size of structure?
Flood Spillway structure Is finish suitable for flow velocities?
condition Are there defects?
Is there any cavitation damage?
Flood Erosion along spillway Can chute erode to threaten the dam?
Can chute guide walls overtop and erode channel
outside of the structure?
Flood Spillway discharge Is exit area downstream of chute likely to erode
undermining dam toe and undermine chute?
Is there a well developed plunge pool down to
hard rock?
Could erosion to cut back sufficiently to endanger
dam wall?
Flood Wave run up eroding How much freeboard?
upstream face Size of riprap protection?
Evidence of significant deterioration?

CONFIDENTIAL
 MALAYSIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON LARGE DAMS
(MYCOLD)
CERTIFIED DAM SAFETY INSPECTOR
BATCH 1 In collaboration with:

Loading Description of failure Credible

Consider the following
condition mode (Y/N/unsure)?
Normal Failure of outlet pipe What type of outlet pipe / valve?
and valve at toe What type of construction?
What is condition of conduit?
Normal Failure of pipe under Construction details? Conduit type?
embankment Conduit installation details? Conduit condition?
Normal Piping through Embankment zoning and materials?
/flood embankment, Dam construction schedule, materials and weather
/earthquake foundation or next to conditions?
structures Interface with structures?
(Defects, animals, Outlet location, type, design, materials and
trees, desiccation construction details?
cracks) Foundation conditions and treatment?
Normal Downstream slope Slope angle and materials type?
instability Condition of slope? Monitoring results?
Normal Upstream slope Slope angle and materials type? Foundations?
instability Condition of slope? Monitoring results?
Earthquake Deformation/ settlement How much freeboard above FSL.
Settlement expected under earthquake (depends
on embankment and foundation materials).
Earthquake Liquefaction Consider foundations and embankment materials –
susceptible to liquefaction?
Other Reservoir rim stability Steepness of slopes? Geology and conditions?
Reservoir fluctuations? Slope drainage?
Observed condition?
Other Sabotage/terrorism Is it likely to occur? What is vulnerable?
Other Mining/blasting Evidence of mining activities nearby?
activities Subsidence under dam or reservoir?
PGA of mining activities or construction activities?

2. List the 3 key failure modes that you think represent the highest risk of leading to a failure of the dam,
and provide the reasons.

END OF EXERCISE
CONFIDENTIAL
 PROGRAM: REMOTE TRAINING

CERTIFIED DAM SAFETY INSPECTOR

NOVEMBER 2020

----ANSWER SHEET---

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

In collaboration with:
 PROGRAM: REMOTE TRAINING

CERTIFIED DAM SAFETY INSPECTOR

NOVEMBER 2020

----ANSWER SHEET---

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

In collaboration with: