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Technical Manual: Conduits through Embankment Dams (FEMA 484)

Technical Manual: Conduits through Embankment Dams (FEMA 484)

Technical Manual: Conduits through Embankment Dams (FEMA 484)

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<strong>Conduits</strong> <strong>through</strong> <strong>Embankment</strong> <strong>Dams</strong>Eventually, the tunnel erosion feature reaches the reservoir. Outflow will thenincrease substantially, leading to direct erosion of the embankment dam andcomplete breach or draining of the reservoir <strong>through</strong> the tunnel that develops.The resulting failure often completely destroys the embankment dam, leavingfew traces of the original piping tunnel. The failure of this embankment damwas attributed to piping of foundation sands. Photo courtesy of NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Figure 10 (cont’d).—The backward erosion piping process associated with intergranularseepage and the subsequent backward erosion of soil particles.16

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