Failure Investigation of Tawila Dam in North Darfur, Sudan

Magdi M.E. Zumrawi

Abstract: This paper will visually and experimentally assess the failure of recently constructed dam at Tawila in North Darfur as well as examine -and identify the causes of the failure. Intensive literature of historical cases of dam failure events throughout the world is reviewed. The -investigation is conducted to provide an extensive diagnosis study to point out the structural and geotechnical defects of the Dam. The -investigation results showed that the sediment deposition lead to reduction in reservoir capacity and the collapse of the spillway occurred -due to erosion and excessive deformation of the foundation. The high silting rate and seepage of water lead to piping through the -foundation soil of loose sand were detected as the main causes of the dam failure. It was recommended that necessary and urgent -technical solutions such as desilting and seepage control to be considered in the new rehabilitation of the dam. -

Keywords: Failure, diagnosis, spillway, seepage, erosion -