Gully Erosion in Earth Spillways

Abstract

The formation and movement of gullies in earth emergency spillways often produce the major damage and pose the greatest threat of a dam breach during a flood flow. This study examined the rate of gully overfall movement through a compacted cohesive soil placed in the center of a spillway channel. The gully movement rates and modes of failure resulting from a constant flow rate were observed as the gully moved up the escape slope and through the level crest section.