Guidelines for Safety Inspection of Dams - Central Water Commission

Appendix III
STRUCTURES, FEATURES, EVENTS AND EVIDENCE TO BE
EXAMINED DURING INSPECTIONS
1 GENERAL
The performance of dams and appurtenant structures is controlled
by
(1) their designs,
(2) the characteristics of their constituent materials,
(3) the nature of their foundations, and
(4) their regional settings.
The fundamental objective of dam safety inspections is the detection
of any existing or developing structural of hydraulic weakness. In
searching for weaknesses, dam inspectors must recognize and
understand the inter-relationship of the demands which control
performance.
2. CHANGES IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MATERIALS
2.1 General : Observe for defective, unsuited or deteriorated materials.
A variety of different materials makes up the different types of dams
and appurtenances. The quality and durability of these materials
must always be determined in every instance and the need for such
critical examination and what to look for as listed in this section are
not normally repeated in the sections on specific structures.
2.2 Concrete
2.3 Rock
(1) Alkali – aggregate reaction, pattern of crushing and cracking.
(2) Leaching
(3) Abrasion
(4) Spalling
(5) General deterioration
(6) Strength loss
(1) Degradation
(2) Softening
(3) Dissolution
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